Pirate shootout off Somalia coast
The Horn of Africa is one of the world's worst regions for piracy
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Tuesday, 30, Sep 2008 10:56
An argument between a group of Somali pirates over what to do with their seized cargo ended with three men being shot, it has emerged.
The incident happened on board the MV Faina, a Ukrainian cargo ship captured by the pirates off Somalia's coast in the Indian Ocean.
It contains 33 tanks and other equipment which was bound for Kenya, from where the materiel was expected to head for south Sudan.
Such a development could have a destabilising effect on the tentative peace in the east African country as it may break a ceasefire agreement between rebel forces and the Khartoum government.
Andrew Mwangura of East African Seafarers' Association said the incident occurred last night as the pirates split into two groups.
One is believed to have preferred holding out for a $20 million ransom while the other backed taking more "radical" action with the tanks and other equipment.
It is not clear whether any of the three men survived the incident. Mr Mwangura attributed the dispute to the presence of US Navy warships which are monitoring the MV Faina.
"We are asking the international community and the negotiators around that area to pull back - so they cool off," he told the BBC.
Spokesperson Nathan Christensen said the Fifth Fleet ships in the area would seek to ensure the safety of the crew, prevent the offloading of dangerous cargo and safeguard the seized ship itself so it can be returned to its owners.
This is the latest in a series of hijackings in the waters off the Somali coast, which are a bottleneck for international shipping and fast becoming notorious as one of the worst areas for piracy in the world.
In a separate development, two Malaysian oil tankers hijacked last month were freed today following the payment of ransoms.