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Warships surround Somali pirates
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by Dave Keating | September 29, 2008 at 02:58 am
369 views | 29 Recommendations | 10 comments
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The Somali pirates being confronted by a coalition of the worlds' navies off the Africa coast have been surrounded by three warships: one Russian, one American, and one unknown.
Somali pirates aboard a ship carrying tanks and weapons that they have seized say they are surrounded by at least three foreign warships.
One is the American US destroyer USS Howard, another is from Russia but the nationality of the third is not clear.
But one of the pirates said they were not afraid and had enough food to withstand a siege.
A maritime expert said the ship was carrying "dangerous chemicals" and warned against using force.
Andrew Mwangura, of the Kenya-based Seafarers' Programme, also told Reuters news agency that a military helicopter had flown over pirate speedboats heading to reinforce the Ukrainian-operated ship, the Faina, moored near the town of Hobyo.
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Dave Keating
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (10)
at 03:32 on September 29th, 2008
Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.
The 'unknown' ship is intriguing enough, but does this mean that the USA and Russia are working together? That makes a welcome change.
at 03:48 on September 29th, 2008
Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I wonder what is really on that seized boat...
at 05:05 on September 29th, 2008
Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 07:41 on September 29th, 2008
Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I see, the Russian and the American seem to get along fine on this.
at 07:53 on September 29th, 2008
Pirates theaten to fight to the last man
Source: RFI English
A spokesperson for the pirates, Sugule Ali, confirmed that they are surrounded by three foreign military craft and airplanes but promised to fight if attacked.
"Planes are flying over us, so I warn any military operation or use of force, if we are attacked, we will defend ourselves until the last one if us dies," he told RFI.
at 08:05 on September 29th, 2008
Reports confirm this is the 25th ship pirates have conficated off the 'Horn of Africa' and that numerous others have been attacked. Dan Finnan (above) thanks for the RFI quote (copied and pasted below). . .
"Planes are flying over us, so I warn any military operation or use of force, if we are attacked, we will defend ourselves until the last one if us dies!"
OK, you got your wish Sugule Ali -- Your Dead, all you mofo's! Negotiate, please, shoot em' ALL, or sink the ship! And if the Russian ship gets in the way... sink it as well, and tell Tsar Putin he's a ship short in his navy.
-END-
at 09:51 on September 29th, 2008
I've been a great admirer of Somali sailors (as opposed to pirates) who over many years have helped crew many of the world's merchant navy ships.
Hope that things get sorted without more bloodshed.
LF
at 09:52 on September 29th, 2008
Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 12:34 on September 29th, 2008
Dave Keating, I like this story. It's good stuff. The mystery destroyer is a Canadian ship. Bet you didn't know we had any! Actually, it's been reassigned to that area from the Persian Gulf area. It's already helped thwart some boardings.
at 21:16 on September 29th, 2008
Dave Keating, great story. I say to heck with the pirates and board or sink the vessel. time to show would be pirates the world means business