(CBS/AP) U.S. warships are trying to stop Pirates of Somalia,from sending reinforcements to a lifeboat where an American captain is being held hostage as the high-seas standoff off Africa's eastern coast entered a fourth day Saturday. Meanwhile, Somali pirates have hijacked an American-owned, Italian-flagged tugboat with a 16-member crew in the Gulf of Aden. Shona Lowe, a spokeswoman at NATO's Northwood maritime command center, confirmed that the tugboat was hijacked Saturday morning in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia's northern coast when it was towing barges. She confirmed 10 of the 16 crew were Italian nationals, adding that Italian government officials and the company that owned the vessel were involved in trying to secure their release. A Nairobi-based diplomat, who spoke on condition on anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to reporters, said Somali pirates have summoned assistance from ships they have commandeered (with hostages) from a variety of nations, including the Philippines, Russia and Germany. ..mor..http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/11/world/main4936629.shtml
ww.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/04/11/world/main4936629.shtmlPirates seize U.S.-owned, Italy-flagged tugboat
NAIROBI, April 11 (Reuters) - Pirates captured an Italian-flagged tugboat with 16 crew including 10 Italians on Saturday, in the latest hijacking in the busy Gulf of Aden. The tugboat, with enough fuel and food on board to last a month, was believed to be heading toward the Somali coast, the head of the Italian company that owns the boat told Reuters. "I've entered into contact with the families (of the crew)," Claudio Bartolotti, head of Ravenna-based Micoperi Srl, said, adding there were also five Romanians and one Croatian on board. Bartolotti denied reports the 75-metre-long tugboat was U.S.-owned, saying his company had recently purchased it.
NATO alliance officials on a warship in the region had previously described the boat as U.S.-owned, Italian-flagged. Andrew Mwangura, of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, said the tugboat's crew were believed to be unharmed.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LB80287.htmtnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LB80287.htm
.jpg)
2 comments:
Rahm, what are your thoughts on the elders who supposedly are mediating on behalf of the pirates
From the New York Times:
NYSlimes
On Saturday, a group of Somali elders from Gara’ad, mediating on behalf of the pirates, spoke by satellite phone to American officials, according to Abdul Aziz Aw Mahamoud, a district commissioner in the semiautonomous region of Puntland in northeastern Somalia. The elders proposed a deal in which the pirates would release Captain Phillips, with no ransom paid, and that the pirates would then be allowed to escape.
But Mr. Abdul Aziz said that the Americans insisted that the pirates be handed over to Puntland authorities, and the elders refused. By noon local time, the Americans cut off communications with the elders, he said.
this pirates are not from puntland ..they are from.._Hardheere,galgaduud hawiye hartland.Maxamed Farax Caydiid (Muhammad Farah Aydid).. and Terrorist Hassan Dahir Aways MOST WANTED Hometown .They are from the Habargedir subclan of Hawiye clan...they are more Dangerous ..Mogadishu hawiye clan leaders ...hawiye elders and Somali Taliban Government hawiye President .. is the only way ..or.. the Navy SEAL.. Take Them Out .. Puntland in northeastern Somalia. The elders Are Criminals ..they in bed with pirates..they trying to blackmail the US government ..also somali MP is well-connected pirates..remember that ...
Post a Comment