Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Somali Pirates Attacked on Ship!

The MV Faina (10 Nov 2008)
The MV Faina is currently anchored off the pirate stronghold of Harardhere

Reports surfaced that the Somali pirates on board the hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship thwarted a failed revolt by the crew.  AFP news agency said an unnamed pirated told them of the incident quoting him saying "they tried to harm" two of the captors.

The Ukrainian cargo ship is carrying 33 tanks and other weaponry and was seized about two months ago.

"Some crew members on the Ukrainian ship are misbehaving," the pirate said.

No official word from the Ukrainian foreign ministry as their spokesman said they had not received any information of the incident.

"They tried to harm two of our gunmen late Monday. This is unacceptable, they risk serious punitive measures. Somalis know how to live and how to die at the same time, but the Ukrainians' attempt to take violent action is misguided", said the pirates.

The pirates were resting chewing jaat when they were taken by surprise when some members of the crew suddenly attacked them taking out their frustration on the captors.

"Maybe some of the crew are frustrated and we are feeling the same but our boys never opted for violence, this was a provocation," he told AFP by telephone.

Another report of the incident, by Russian Ren TV, quoted one of the pirates as saying that the crew responsible would be "seriously punished".

French naval officers escort cargo ships
The EU is to place armed guards on vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden

Gunmen seized the Kenya-bound MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition, on 24 September.

The ship, which is currently anchored off the pirate stronghold of Harardhere, has a mostly Ukrainian crew of 21.

Pirates had initially demanded a ransom of $20m (£13.5m).

In November, a Kenyan maritime official confirmed that a deal had been struck between the ship's owner and the pirates, and that the two sides were discussing the ship's release.

Details of the agreement have not been revealed.


Sports > http://torontobasketballfans.blogspot.com/

 Additional Somali Sources

Af Soomaali blog | Somalia Blog | YouSomali | Number 1 Somali Blogs |  Mogadishu News | Current Somali News  |  Somali News Articles | United Islamic Courts Blog | Somali News Blog | Somali By Somalis | Somali Cities Blogs | US Agenda In Somalia | Somali Music

Other Somali Sources Amin Arts Discussions | Somali News and Blogs 

No comments: