U.S. destroyer joins pursuit of pirates off Somalia
Pirates reportedly demand $35 million ransom for a Ukrainian ship carrying 33 battle tanks, grenade launchers and other arms and parts. U.N. considers more measures to curb banditry.
NAIROBI, KENYA — A U.S. destroyer and a Russian warship headed Saturday for a possible confrontation with pirates who hijacked a cargo ship off the Somali coast loaded with battle tanks, machine guns and a crew of 21.
Despite being pursued by ships from two of the world's biggest naval powers, the pirates showed no sign of surrendering the Ukrainian vessel Faina, which they boarded Thursday as it headed to Kenya. Instead, unconfirmed reports said they were demanding a $35 million ransom to turn over their unconventional booty that includes 33 Russian-built T-72 tanks.
The pirates also warned against any raids by the U.S. or Russian navy.
The brazen seizure occurred in notoriously dangerous international waters off the Horn of Africa, where pirates exploit Somalia's lawlessness. A Greek oil tanker was also seized by pirates in the area Friday, maritime officials said. And twice this year, French commandos have intervened to rescue citizens taken hostage off Somalia.
Pirates operate with relative freedom and impunity in and around the Somalian port city of Eyl in the semi-autonomous Puntland region, where officials say more than 300 hostages are being held and several hijacked ships are docked.
"These pirates are well-armed groups with rocket-propelled grenades and automatic weapons," said Bile Mohamoud Qabowsade, a senior Puntland government advisor. "Even super-power governments have been unable to chase away the pirates. What do you think a feeble, semi-autonomous Puntland government can do?"
While the fate of the Faina remains unresolved, the unusual nature of the cargo has put greater scrutiny on the rampant piracy in the region. The international community has only recently begun to respond to the threat to commercial and recreational vessels plying these waters. Even naval ships bristling with sophisticated weaponry may not be immune from attack. Earlier this month, the U.S. Navy said one of its ships appeared to have been fired upon by pirates.
Since the collapse of the Somalian government in 1991, the country has suffered through civil war, clan divisions, famine and, most recently, an Islamist insurgency. The U.N. abandoned its mission there in 1993 following a helicopter attack that killed 18 American servicemen but for the most part, its troubles have been confined to its borders.
The pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean are pushing Somalia's lingering problems onto the international stage.
