Region | Somalia
Pirates beef up security around hijacked oil tanker
Somali pirates built up their defences around a captured Saudi Arabian super-tanker on Friday after demanding a $25 million (Dh91.75 million) ransom.
- Agencies
- Published: 23:30 November 21, 2008
Mogadishu: Somali pirates built up their defences around a captured Saudi Arabian super-tanker on Friday after demanding a $25 million (Dh91.75 million) ransom.
As foreign navies sent warships to Somalia's dangerous waters and shipping companies sought alternative routes, extra clan militia and other fighters were brought in at the pirate lair of Harardhere, residents said.
"Some of them are inside the town and others are taking shelter in a nearby village and can be called if need be," local resident Mohammad Awale said. He said the fighters had come from neighbouring Gulgudud and Mudug regions.
Local militia and hardline Shebab fighters also arrived in Harardhere in what some residents said was a move to position themselves for a share of any ransom paid.
"There are two armed vehicles belonging to Al Shebab. They have reached the town of Harardhere but there are no intentions of attacking the ship from here," a Harardhere official said.
"There are many militiamen who have arrived in the town and they want to get a share from the pirates if the ransom is paid," said Ahmad Abdullahi, a local elder.
"They believe this ship is huge and the owner will pay a lot of money."
Dozens of Somali insurgents stormed a port yesterday hunting the pirates behind the seizure of a Saudi supertanker that was the world's biggest hijack, a local elder said.
Ambush
Separately, police in the capital Mogadishu said they ambushed and shot dead 17 militants, in the latest illustration of the chaos in the Horn of Africa country that has fuelled a dramatic surge in piracy.
The Sirius Star, the biggest ship ever hijacked, and its $100-million load of oil was seized last Saturday and taken to Harardhere, 300km north of Somalia's capital Mogadishu.
The pirates on Thursday gave the owners 10 days to pay a $25 million ransom.
Speaking from the tanker, a pirate who identified himself as Mohammad Said threatened "disastrous" consequences should Vela International, shipping arm of the Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco, fail to comply.
"The Saudis have 10 days to comply, otherwise we will take action that could be disastrous," he said.
He did not specify the threatened action but the 330-metre long tanker is carrying two million barrels of crude oil.
Environmental groups have warned of a huge catastrophe if oil from the super-tanker was released.
Some experts have said that the MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship seized by the same pirates in September with a cargo of tanks and other weaponry, was booby-trapped by the hijackers.
With close to 100 attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean this year, the pirates now pose a growing threat to international trade.
Pirates who have no confirmed links to bigger organisations and operate on relatively modest means have seized ships of all sizes and in an ever-growing area.
Two speedboats with pirates armed with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-launchers seized the Saudi tanker in 16 minutes on Saturday, according to a military report.
The United States said it would seek support at the United Nations for a resolution to tighten international measures against Somali pirates.
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