This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7643561.stm
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Somali pirate 'shoot-out' on ship | Somali pirate 'shoot-out' on ship |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| There has been a shoot-out between Somali pirates on a hijacked cargo ship loaded with 33 tanks, the East African Seafarers' Association says. | There has been a shoot-out between Somali pirates on a hijacked cargo ship loaded with 33 tanks, the East African Seafarers' Association says. |
| The maritime group's Andrew Mwangura told the BBC three men where shot in a row over tactics. | The maritime group's Andrew Mwangura told the BBC three men where shot in a row over tactics. |
| Pirates seized the Ukrainian ship last week and have demanded a $20m (£11m) ransom to release it. | Pirates seized the Ukrainian ship last week and have demanded a $20m (£11m) ransom to release it. |
| Mr Mwangura said the situation is very tense with the ship, the Faina, surrounded by US navy vessels. | Mr Mwangura said the situation is very tense with the ship, the Faina, surrounded by US navy vessels. |
| US navy spokesman Lt Nathan Christensen said on Monday that destroyers and cruisers has been deployed within 10 miles (16kms) of the hijacked ship. | US navy spokesman Lt Nathan Christensen said on Monday that destroyers and cruisers has been deployed within 10 miles (16kms) of the hijacked ship. |
| We are asking the international community and the negotiators around that area to pull back - so they cool off Andrew MwanguraEast African Seafarers' Association Life in Somalia's pirate town | |
| Meanwhile, Malaysian shipping company MISC Berhad says two of its oil tankers hijacked in August have been freed. | |
| Company chairman Hassan Marican said ransoms were paid for MT Bunga Melati 2 and MT Bunga Melati 5, but declined to name the amount. | |
| He said paying ransoms was against company policy, but necessary to obtain the release of its crew. | |
| Somalia has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered continual civil strife, with rival armed clans and groups fighting for control. | Somalia has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered continual civil strife, with rival armed clans and groups fighting for control. |
| 'Concern' | 'Concern' |
| Mr Mwangura said there are pirates from two different clans on board the Ukrainian-operated Faina. | Mr Mwangura said there are pirates from two different clans on board the Ukrainian-operated Faina. |
| Somalia's pirates face battles at seaSomalia: Special report "One clan is radical the other is moderate," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. | |
| It seems the radicals wanted to take hold of the shipment of 33 72-T tanks and other weapons, while the moderates wanted "to backpedal on the ransom issue", he said. | It seems the radicals wanted to take hold of the shipment of 33 72-T tanks and other weapons, while the moderates wanted "to backpedal on the ransom issue", he said. |
| It was not immediately clear if the three men shot in the incident had survived. | It was not immediately clear if the three men shot in the incident had survived. |
| Mr Mwangura said his main concern was the safety of the crew, and that the military activity in the area had unnerved the hijackers. | Mr Mwangura said his main concern was the safety of the crew, and that the military activity in the area had unnerved the hijackers. |
| "We are asking the international community and the negotiators around that area to pull back - so they cool off." | "We are asking the international community and the negotiators around that area to pull back - so they cool off." |
| One of the ship's 21 crew is reported to have died from an illness on board. | One of the ship's 21 crew is reported to have died from an illness on board. |
| The Faina, which had been sailing to the Kenyan port of Mombasa, has been moored near the town of Hobyo. | |
| Kenya has insisted that the shipment of tanks on board were destined for its military. | |
| But other sources, including the US navy spokesman, have said they were bound for the autonomous government of South Sudan, in possible contravention of a UN arms embargo. | |
| The waters off Somalia's coast are considered some of the world's most dangerous. | The waters off Somalia's coast are considered some of the world's most dangerous. |
| Even ships carrying food aid are often targeted, hampering the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the estimated three million Somalis in need of aid. | Even ships carrying food aid are often targeted, hampering the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the estimated three million Somalis in need of aid. |
| A Canadian navy frigate has been escorting food aid supplies for the UN World Food Programme over the last month. | A Canadian navy frigate has been escorting food aid supplies for the UN World Food Programme over the last month. |
| WFP spokesman Peter Smerdon told the BBC Canada's mission is due to end on 23 October and no-one has offered to replace them. | WFP spokesman Peter Smerdon told the BBC Canada's mission is due to end on 23 October and no-one has offered to replace them. |