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Somalia/Kenya/Ukraine
Exclusive - Pirates theaten to fight to the last man
Article published on the 2008-09-28 Latest update 2008-09-29 16:24 TU
The Canadian navy escorts a World Food Programme boat off the Somali coast
(Photo: AFP)
Somali pirates, holding a Ukrainian arms ship, say that they will fight to the last man if attacked. Speaking to RFI, they repeated their demand for 20 million dollars (13.7 million euros), although they are surrounded by three foreign warships. The ship's captain confirmed that one crew member has died from high blood pressure.
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.
Exclusive: Sugule Ali of the Somali pirate group on board the captured vessel, The Faina
Captain Viktor Nikolski confirmed earlier reports that one of the crew has died, adding that his body is in the ship's refrigerator and that he died from high blood pressure.
Exclusive: Captain Viktor Nikolski on board the MV Faina
According to the Ukrainian defence ministry, the boat is carrying 33 Soviet-type T-72 tanks as well as armaments being delivered by Kiev as part of an arms deal with Kenya.
Two of the warships are reported to be European but it is unclear from which country. The US navy confirms that one of its warships is involved.
"There is a USS destroyer, USS Howard, they’re on station off the coast of Somalia and they are in visual contact," a US navy official, Nathan Christianson told RFI. "Our ship is in visual contact, using standard communications monitoring."
