Region | Somalia
Militants take steps to attack pirates
Militants in Somalia took steps yesterday to attack pirates behind the world's biggest hijack and rescue the captured Saudi Arabian supertanker, a spokesman said.
- Reuters
- Published: 23:27 November 22, 2008
Mogadishu: Militants in Somalia took steps yesterday to attack pirates behind the world's biggest hijack and rescue the captured Saudi Arabian supertanker, a spokesman said.
The Sirius Star is carrying $100 million (Dh367 million) worth of oil and a 25-man crew from the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, Poland and Britain. It is thought to be anchored offshore near Haradheere, about half-way up Somalia's long coastline.
One faction of the Islamists has vowed to attack the gang holding the tanker, in retaliation for them seizing a "Muslim" vessel. "We have arranged our fighters," spokesman Abdirahim Isse Adow said yesterday. "The first step is to cut off pirates inland from those on the Saudi ship by restricting their supplies and cutting their communications."
Split
But the militants - who have been battling Somalia's Western-backed government for nearly two years and have slowly advanced on the capital Mogadishu - are split.
Haradheere residents said another group of Islamists had arrived in the town, apparently with less noble intentions. "A group of Islamists met some of the pirates here and asked for a share of the ransom," one local man, who gave his name as Farah, said. "The pirates promised them something after the ransom was paid. But there is no deal so far."
The rebels have sworn to stamp out piracy if they win power and deny they are in cahoots with the sea gangs. But some analysts say the militants benefit from spoils and arms shipments provided by the sea gangs. Analysts also accuse government figures of collaborating with the pirates.
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