Somalia: 6 killed in pirate battle, more fighting feared

At least six pirates have been killed in fighting between pirates over a ransom in the coastal town of Harardere , in Somalia ’s central region of Mudug.

The record-breaking ransom, which was estimated to be US$7 million, was taken from Greek oil tanker Maran Centaurus released on Monday.

Harardere town is the second base of Somali pirates and the battle between the two groups left at least 6 people, including civilians dead and ten others injured. Civilians were among the injured people.

"Three pirates and three civilians died in the clashes which occurred in the district, some residents were also among the wounded people with most hit by stray bullets" said Ali a resident in Harardere.

Witnesses said residents fear another armed clash among the pirates.

"The clashes occurred after pirates took ransom from Greek oil tanker Maran Centaurus, which was held for months," said Abdullahi Ali a resident in Harardere.

The pirates gave some US$200,000 dollars to the crews comprised of 28 crews, urguing that the money was goodbye gesture for their former hostages, who stayed with them longer.

Harardere elders told Garowe Online there is fear of clashes but they are trying to mediate the two groups and broker harmony.

The ransom-hunting Somali pirates have made millions of dollars from the hijacking of international vessel transiting in the Gulf of Aden , one of the world’s most busiest shipping lanes.

Source:garoweonline.com/

Greek tanker latest ship released in Somali pirate drama

Somali pirates have released a Greek tanker, the Maran Centaurus, one of the largest ever taken, after the ship-owners paid out millions of dollars in ransom.

It is believed that a plane dropped up to $5 million dollars in a bag onto the deck of the vessel, which would make this payment one of the largest ransoms ever.

The hijack and subsequent release of merchant vessels following the payment of ransoms has become a common occurence in the Indian Ocean waters off Somalia.

While world powers continue to patrol the waters off the troubled nation, the pirates have begun to move further out to sea.

A 'mother ship' of sorts is used to carry smaller powerboats as far as 1,800 kms from shore so that attacks may be launched on vulnerable vessels.

This may have been the case when British couple Paul and Rachel Chandler were hijacked aboard their 38ft yacht enroute to Tanzania from the Seychelles.

In an emotional telephone call with ITN, Rachel said she was prepared to die, but wanted to see her husband one last time before they killed her. The couple were seperated shortly after they were captured in October last year.

Following repeated refusals by the British government to pay the ransom demanded, the pirates have threatened to kill the couple within the next three days.

A rescue operation, similar to that undertaken by the US to free Captain Richard Phillips, was ordered by Whitehall. But it has now come to light that the Special Forces operation was bungled and delayed, according to what a Whitehall official told the BBC's security correspondent, Frank Gardner.

It is necessarily unclear whether another rescue attempt will be made, and in the meantime two lives hang in the balance.

Source:haitinews.net/s