Somalia

Pirates agree to release ship and arms cargo

Article published on the 2008-12-01 Latest update 2008-12-01 12:02 TU

Crew and pirates on board the Faina in October
(Photo: AFP)

The pirates that seized the arms-laden MV Faina on 25 September said on Sunday that "agreement had been reached" concerning its release. The boat is carrying 33 battle tanks as well as rocket launchers and ammunition. It is manned by a crew of 17 Ukranians, three Russians and a Latvian.

After an initial ransom demand of 35 million dollars (28 million euros), the pirates revised their asking price to eight, and then three, million dollars, according to spokesperson Sugule Ali.

Ali said the pirates were preparing to leave the vessel within four days.

RFI's Virginie Gomez in Addis Ababa says Ethiopia is increasingly alarmed at the continued piracy off the coast of Somalia and is hoping for international intervention.

Jean Ping, President of the AU Commission, sees the hijackings as an extension of a corresponding lawlessness on land, she says.

Ethiopia last weekend accused Eritrea of supporting the pirates.

Despite the news of an imminent release of the MV Faina, the fate of the Saudi oil tanker, Sirius Star, remains unclear. This vessel is the largest ship taken so far by pirates.

A deadline for a ransom demand of 25 million dollars expired on Sunday.

A third vessel, an oil and chemical tanker, was seized last Friday. It sails under a Liberian flag.