Somalia: Pirates negotiate, deny arms claim

  1. Posted on Wednesday 11 November 2009 - 11:26
    Muhyadin
    Muhyadin Ahmed Roble, AfricaNews reporter in Nairobi, Kenya Photo: Sheekh Aduun
    One of the Somali pirates that allegedly kidnapped a Panamanian-flagged ship with 18 crew members on board insisted that the ship was not carrying weapons. Isse Abdi Ahmed said they are negotiating a ransom demand with the owners. Mohammed Iqbal, the ship manager confirmed that report from Dubai.
    Somalian pirates in Eyl. Photo by Sheekh Aduun
    The hijacked crew according to the VOA includes 15 Indians, two Pakistanis and one Somali. Reports say a group of Somali Businessmen - the Juba General Trading Company - had hired the al-Mizan ship to carry cargo from the United Arab Emirates to Mogadishu.

    A spokesman of the group Abdirisaq Abdulkadir Sabriye told the Al-Shahid news website in Somalia that: "Our ship has carried 3,000 tons of general business materials from Dubai".

    Abdulkadir said they were surprised reports from both local and international media claim the ship was carrying weapons. He said it was the pirates who “said to us pay ransom or we will say the ship was carrying weapons".

    He added that the ship left Dubai on 24th of October and was expected to land between 6th and 7th of this month but it did not arrive.

    Somali pirates have increased their attacks against vessels using international waters. AfricaNews reporter said presently there are about 11 vessels and more than 200 crew being taken hostage.

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