UPDATED ON:
Saturday, September 27, 2008
15:10 Mecca time, 12:10 GMT
 
News Africa
'Somalia rebels' in control of ship
The Russian frigate Neustrashimy has been sent to the Horn of Africa [AFP]

A Ukrainian ship containing an arms consignment for Kenya is heading towards an area of Somalia controlled by the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) after it was hijacked by pirates, local officials say.

Bile Mohamoud, an adviser to the presidency of Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland, said the Faina was moving towards the central Somalian coastal city of Haradhere.

"We are very much concerned over this incident which stirs insecurity if not stopped," he said from the Somalian capital Mogadishu on Saturday.

"We are getting information that the pirates are getting ready ... They deployed more armed men into the waters."

Separately, a maritime observatory reported on Saturday that a Greek chemical tanker with 19 crew members on board has been hijacked by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden.

Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said the tanker was hijacked on Friday.

Ransom demand 

The Belize-flagged Faina was hijacked on Thursday while en route to the Kenyan port of Mombasa with 33 T-72 battle tanks, grenade launchers, ammunition and spares for the Kenyan military.

The pirates are demanding that a ransom be paid for the seized vessel, Andrew Mwangura, a spokesman from the the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, said.

"The gunmen are demanding $35 million to release the MV Faina and her crew,"  he said.

Haradhere, which lies about 410km north of Mogadishu, and Hobyo, about 120km north of Haradhere, are strongholds of the ICU.

The group has battled against forces from Somalia’s transitional government and its Ethiopian ally since since early 2007.

Residents of Haradhere said pirate vessels were seen heading towards Hoboyo early on Saturday.

"I saw heavily armed pirates on board several speedboats heading towards Hoboyo where the hijacked ship is believed to be coming," Adan Nile, a local fisherman, said.

Somali pirates typically take vessels they capture to the Eyl region, about 800km from Mogadishu, so the choice of Hobyo marks a departure for the rebels.

The military hardware on board the Faina was among the last of a series of shipments to Kenya, Valery Konovalyuk, head of a parliamentary committee that oversees Ukraine's arms deals, said.

Frigate despatched

The Russian frigate Neustrashimy was despatched to the Horn of Africa region on Friday in the wake of the seizure of the Faina.

Igor Dygalo, Russia's Navy spokesman, said the frigate was sent out due to "the rise in pirate attacks, including against Russian citizens".

"In the future, the Russian navy will send its ships on a regular basis to zones where there is a danger from maritime piracy," Dygalo told Russia's Vesti-24 television station.

The Somalian coast has been a favoured region for pirates amid years of continuing instability across the country.

The nation has witnessed fierce fighting and lawlessness since Mohamed Siad Barre was removed from the Somalian presidency in 1991.

 Source: Agencies
Feedback Number of comments : 3
 
Maxad
United Kingdom
27/09/2008
Arms Embargo
It is surprising that these pirating continue because the UN are fair to the Somali people. On one hand, it was declared that arming Somalia was illigal and on the other hand, Ethiopia is allowed to bring army into the country. This a double standard. To fight back against what they see as invaders, the rebels have to find funds for guns from some where. Therefore, it is no surprise that pirating was seen as the easiest option. The UN should have one standard to all is members.

Mohamed
Ethiopia
27/09/2008
somali pirates
The world has to fight the somali pirates.You can imagine thses robers are the one who wants to rule the somali country.They are extemely lawless,arrogant and enemies of somali people and the world too.I think the transitional governemnt and its allay should be supported by the UN to fight and throw this useless groups calling themselves alshabab.They are enemies of Allah too.

Persecuted
United States
16/10/2008
Somali Pirates
Just arm any ship with: One set of Soviet 37mm B47 Model 1948, Twin Anti-Aircraft Gun. Range 4000 meters. Two sets of Soviet ZU-23-M 23-mm, Twin Anti-Aircraft Gun. Range 2000 meters. A half dozen of SOVIET KSVK 12.7 mm sniper rifle. Range 300 meters. Range means (Practical Range). And don’t worry of pirates anymore.

 
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