Faina: Pirates lower ransom
2008-11-25 22:12
Mogadishu - Somali pirates holding a Ukrainian ship seized exactly two months with a cargo of combat tanks and other weaponry said on Tuesday they had lowered their ransom demand to $3m.
"We are demanding $3m to release the MV Faina," said Sugule Ali, the spokesperson of the group of pirates that hijacked the ship on September 25.
"We are running out of time, waiting for an outcome to these protracted negotiations. The owners should immediately take this opportunity to recover their property," said Ali, reached by phone on the MV Faina.
The Ukrainian ship - headed for Kenya when it was seized - was carrying 33 Soviet-type battle tanks, anti-air systems, rocket launchers and ammunition. There were 17 Ukrainians, three Russians and one Latvian on board.
The pirates initially demanded $35m to release the MV Faina but had since lowered their ransom to $8m.