|
rapala11 -> these guys aren't too smart. (9/29/2008 8:47:38 AM)
|
they're surrounded and the just lower their ransom:
Several U.S. navy ships have converged near a Ukrainian cargo ship, seized last week by pirates off the coast of Somalia, a navy official told CNN Monday.
[image]http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/WORLD/africa/09/29/somalia.piracy.ukraine/art.somalia.pirates.jpg[/image]
A photo from the USS Howard shows Somali pirates in small boats hijacking the MV Faina last week.[image]http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/2.0/mosaic/base_skins/baseplate/corner_wire_BL.gif[/image] Lt. Nathan Christensen said the ships, including the USS Howard, were working toward the safe release of the seized ship, which is loaded with Soviet-era tanks and weapons.
The navy ships were not involved in negotiations between the pirates and the shipping company, he said.
"There are now several U.S. ships keeping vigilant watch," he said. "We want the crew to remain safe and for the cargo not ot fall into the wrong hands."
A Russian frigate was also reported to be on its way to the area.
"This is an international problem that requires an international solution," Christensen said, when asked to respond to the reports.
The pirates, who Christensen said were "loitering on and around the ship," have lowered their ransom demand from $35 million to $20 million.
|
|
|
|