Pirates hijack tanker
2006-03-31 20:44
Mogadishu - Somali pirates have seized an oil tanker soon after it off-loaded its cargo of fuel at a southern Somalia port.
The pirates so far have made no demands since hijacking the United Arab Emirates-registered MT Lombigo near Adale, about 150km north of the capital.
An El Ade port official, Ali Beere Adow, said the MT Lombigo, which carries a Panamanian flag and had a crew of 32 Filipinos, had off-loaded its cargo.
"About 20 armed pirates on two speedboats attacked the tanker and then scaled it. After 10 minutes I could see the tanker commandeered to the high seas," said Jimale Kaahin, a fisherman who said he witnessed the hijacking.
Somalia has had no coast guard or navy since 1991, when warlords ousted the dictator and then turned on each other.
The international maritime bureau said piracy on Somali waters steeply increased last year, with the number of incidents rising to 35, compared with only two in 2004.
The increase in piracy included first-time attacks on vessels carrying food aid for Somalis, hindering United Nations efforts to provide relief to drought victims. Pirates also have attacked a cruise ship.
On March 15, the UN security council encouraged naval forces operating off Somalia to take action against suspected piracy.
In the past two months, US naval ships have confronted two groups of pirates, killing one and injuring five others. One group of pirates the US navy confronted is now facing trial in Kenya.
- SAPA