MOGADISHU, Somalia – The crew of two Egyptian fishing vessels overpowered Somali pirates after being held hostage for four months and, with machetes and tools, killed at least two pirates before sailing to freedom, a pirate and businessman said Friday.The case marked a rare instance of crewmen fighting back against Somali pirates, who usually hold their hostages for months in anticipation of million-dollar ransoms.
One pirate was in custody after local fishermen found him near shore with machete wounds, police said.
A pirate who told The Associated Press he escaped the ordeal said the fight took place near the coastal town of Las Qorey off the Gulf of Aden, one of the world's busiest waterways and where Somali pirates carry out most of their attacks.
"They attacked us with machetes and other tools, seized some of our guns and then fought with us," the pirate, who gave only his nom de guerre, Miraa, told the AP in a telephone interview. "I could see two dead bodies of my colleagues lying on the ship. I do not know the fate of the nine others."..more..http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090814/ap_on_re_af/piracy
Fishermen attack pirates, get boats back
MOGADISHU, Somalia — Using machetes and guns, the men fought a desperate battle to take control of two boats off the Somali coast. But this time, it wasn’t pirates who launched the attack — it was Egyptian fishermen who had been held hostage for four months and who killed two brigands and took others captive as they regained control of their vessels.
On Friday, the roughly three dozen newly liberated fishermen sailed toward home. One pirate was in custody in Somalia after local fishermen found him near shore with machete wounds, police said.Another pirate, who said he escaped during the fight on Thursday, described the struggle in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.more..http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/aug/14/fishermen-attack-pirates-get-boats-back/
Op-Ed Contributor - Anarchy on Land Means Piracy at Sea - NYTimes.com
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