Region | Somalia

Somali leaders send gunmen to chase pirates

A Spanish fishing boat seized off Somalia was spotted on Friday near a remote coastal town and local leaders there said they had sent gunmen to chase away the pirates holding the vessel.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 16:20 April 25, 2008
  • Gulf News

Mogadishu: A Spanish fishing boat seized off Somalia was spotted on Friday near a remote coastal town and local leaders there said they had sent gunmen to chase away the pirates holding the vessel.

The tuna fishing boat Playa de Bakio, which has 26 crew on board, was sighted near Hobyo, central Mudug region.

Aweys Ali Said, chairman of the Mudug region, said local leaders would not hesitate to use force if diplomacy failed to make the pirates steer clear.

"Our elders will convince them to leave our area and if it becomes necessary our troops have the authority to fire and drive them away," he said.

Somalia's interim government spokesman, Abdi Haji Gobdon, said the Spanish ambassador to Kenya was in Mogadishu to hold discussions with the prime minister over the hostage situation.

Madrid has also sent a frigate to the area to track down the pirates.

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