Region | Somalia

Somalis urge tough action against pirates

Somalis on Thursday urged France to punish six pirates captured after holding hostage 30 crew members of a luxury yacht.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 16:45 April 17, 2008
  • Gulf News

Mogadishu: Somalis on Thursday urged France to punish six pirates captured after holding hostage 30 crew members of a luxury yacht.

The men were flown to France on Wednesday and are being questioned over the April 4 attack. French officials said last week France had the right to prosecute the pirates.

"Pirates are terrorists and should be dealt with accordingly," said Shaikh Osman Alasow, a teacher in Mogadishu.

"It would be good if the French commandos punish and force their captives to reveal the names and whereabouts of other pirates hiding in Somalia," he added.

Another Somali said powerful countries should follow France in the way it dealt with the hostage situation.

"But the problem is some foreign countries ... encourage piracy by directly or indirectly by paying ransom," said Adow Hussain, a qat dealer.

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