Nato joins fight against pirates

2008-10-10 20:03

Mogadishu - Nato joined a growing international force to protect vessels off Somalia's perilous coast on Thursday, sending military ships to the treacherous waters where pirates are negotiating the release of an arms-laden tanker.

The pirates softened their ransom demands for the Ukrainian ship hijacked two weeks ago in a brazen high-seas attack. Pirates have seized more than two dozen ships off Somalia's coast this year, but the MV Faina has drawn the most international concern because of its dangerous cargo - 33 tanks and other heavy weapons.

"We are open for give-and-take negotiations," pirate spokesperson Sugule Ali told The Associated Press via satellite telephone, as a helicopter could be heard buzzing overhead. Six US warships have surrounded the boat, and a Russian frigate is expected within days.

Ali had vowed in earlier interviews never to reduce the ransom from$20m.

Despite his willingness to negotiate, Ali vowed to "cause a lot of problems for the world" if foreign powers use force to end the two-week stand-off. If the ransom is paid, he said, the ship will be released.

Nato defence ministers meeting in Hungary agreed that a seven-ship force would be in the region within weeks.

"There will soon be Nato military vessels off the coast of Somalia, deterring piracy and escorting food ships," Nato's chief spokesperson James Appathurai said in Budapest.

International action

Momentum has been growing for co-ordinated international action against the pirate menace after the seizure of the MV Faina. Several EU countries last week said they would launch an anti-piracy patrol, and Russia announced it would co-operate with the West on fighting the pirates.

The UN Security Council this week called on countries to send naval ships and military aircraft, and US warships are being diverted from counterterrorism duties to respond to the sea bandits.

Somalia's government has given foreign powers the freedom to use force against the pirates.

The US Navy said the 20 crew members aboard the MV Faina were living in fear.

"They want it to end peaceful and quickly," said Nathan Christensen, a spokesperson from the US 5th Fleet in Bahrain. He said the Navy was in regular radio contact with the crew.

But pirate spokesperson Ali said the crew was holding up well.

"Their chef still prepares their food for them," he said. "They are healthy and have no worries. But of course their only worry is when they will gain their freedom. Their feeling is typically that of hostages - no more, no less."

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said that authorities in Somalia had been unhelpful.

"Over the past 20 years, criminal groups on the territory of Somalia have taken deep roots, possess big financial resources and are heavily armed and well organised," it said. "The pirates' only aim is to get a ransom and safely move deep onto the territory of Somalia."

Other Somali pirates released 15 Filipino seamen and four other crewmen seized when a Japanese-operated chemical tanker was hijacked nearly two months ago, officials said Thursday. Pirates still hold 67 Filipino sailors on four different ships.

- AP