Region | Somalia
Somali troops fail in bid to free hijacked vessel
Somali forces on Sunday mounted a raid on one of the many ships hijacked off the country's coast as a deadline loomed in a standoff aboard another arms-laden vessel, officials said.
- AP
- Published: 20:48 October 13, 2008
Mogadishu: Somali forces on Sunday mounted a raid on one of the many ships hijacked off the country's coast as a deadline loomed in a standoff aboard another arms-laden vessel, officials said.
Troops in northern Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland region tried unsuccessfully to take back a ship that was hijacked by pirates on Thursday, said Ali Abdi Aware, Puntland's foreign minister. He said two pirates were killed.
The vessel, with a cargo of cement, is believed to have Syrian and Somali crew on board.
"Our forces are chasing the ship and we hope to rescue it," Aware said in a telephone interview from Puntland, a hotbed of piracy.
Meanwhile, pirates on the Ukrainian ship MV Faina, which is carrying 33 tanks and other heavy weapons, continued to demand ransom money before releasing the ship and its 20 crew.
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The pirates, who have held the ship for more than two weeks now, had warned they would destroy the vessel this morning unless the ship's owners paid up a ransom of up to $20 million (Dh73.49 million).
Sugule Ali, a spokesman for the pirates, said negotiations with the shipping company were continuing. Regarding the ransom, he said: "It is before Tuesday or never."
Pirates have seized more than two dozen ships this year off the Horn of Africa, but the Faina has drawn the most international attention because of its dangerous cargo. Many fear the weapons on board could end up in the hands of Islamist militants in Somalia.
The ship's operator, Tomex Corp in Odessa, has not commented on negotiations.
The threat by the pirates on the Faina was unusual.
Pirates operating off Somalia rarely harm their hostages, instead holding out for a ransom that often exceeds $1 million.
But international pressure on the pirates is growing. Nato said on Thursday it would send seven ships to the treacherous waters where pirates are negotiating the release of the Faina. American warships are surrounding the ship, and a Russian vessel is on the way as well.
There are 20 Ukrainian, Latvian and Russian crew members on board.
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