Pirates clash over kidnapped British couple
Fresh concerns raised today over safety of Paul and Rachel Chandler
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Tuesday, 03, Nov 2009 11:20
By Richard James.
Fresh concerns have been raised today over the safety of a British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates after reports emerged of arguments by the gang over what to do with them.
A Somalian clan elder has claimed the clashes took place over plans by a section of the pirate gang to transfer Paul and Rachel Chandler to a militant Islamist group.
The couple, aged 58 and 55, from Kent, had been sailing in the Seychelles when they went missing over a week ago.
The alleged clashes are said to have taken place after the couple were taken ashore.
Hussein Mohamed Kahiye, a clan leader from the Somali village of Bahdo, is quoted by the Associated Press as saying: "We did not want the pirates to use our territory to hold hostages or hand them over to another group.
"We took up arms with the help of [the moderate Islamic group] Ahlu Sunna Waljama and opposed [the other group]."
Another pirate told the Times newspaper, the group was preparing to fight off other groups to keep hold of the pair.
"We heard that Islamists with battlewagons are on their way. I believe they will not succeed in confiscating the British couple," Mohamed Shakir said.
The BBC reported one of the pirates as demanding a $7 million (£4.2 million) ransom to secure the Chandler's release.
The Foreign Office, however, has maintained it will not pay any form of ransom to hostage-takers.