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Somali pirate 'shoot-out' on ship 'Shoot-out' aboard hijacked ship
(about 1 hour 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. Somali pirates on board a hijacked ship are reported to have been involved in a shoot-out over what to do with the vessel's cargo of tanks and weapons.
The maritime group's Andrew Mwangura told the BBC three men were shot in a row over tactics. An East African maritime group, which is monitoring the situation, told the BBC that three men were shot but the extent of their injuries was unclear.
Pirates seized the Ukrainian ship last week and have demanded a $20m (£11m) ransom to release it. Pirates seized the Ukrainian ship last week, demanding a $20m (£11m) ransom.
Mr Mwangura said the situation is very tense with the ship, the Faina, surrounded by US navy vessels. They dismissed the claim of infighting as "propaganda", in a satellite phone call to AFP news agency.
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 united as we were before and there was no fighting that took place among us," a spokesman for the pirates told AFP.
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 townWe 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. "This is propaganda being spread by some people who are not aware of our situation. We are united in punishing those who abuse Somali waters," said Sugule Ali.
Company chairman Hassan Marican said ransoms were paid for MT Bunga Melati 2 and MT Bunga Melati 5, but declined to name the amount. In a separate development, the state-owned Malaysian shipping firm, MISC Berhad, said two of its ships had been recovered after it paid a ransom to pirates.
He said paying ransoms was against company policy, but necessary to obtain the release of its crew. A spokesman said paying ransoms was against company policy, but had been 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. Back pedalling
'Concern' The hijacked Ukrainian ship, the Faina, is surrounded by international warships determined to stop its military cargo from falling into the wrong hands.
Mr Mwangura said there are pirates from two different clans on board the Ukrainian-operated Faina. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7358764.stm">Somalia's pirates face battles at sea class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/somalia/default.stm">Somalia: Special report The US navy says its destroyers and cruisers are within 10 nautical miles (about 18km) of the ship.
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7358764.stm">Somalia's pirates face battles at sea class="" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/africa/2004/somalia/default.stm">Somalia: Special report "One clan is radical the other is moderate," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme. Andrew Mwangura of the East African Seafarers' Association - who has been in contact with the vessel - told the BBC that two rival clans had been fighting over tactics.
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. He said radicals on board wanted to keep the shipment of 33 72-T tanks and other weapons in Somalia while the moderates wanted "to back-pedal on the ransom issue".
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," he told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
Earlier, the pirates said they would rather fight than surrender.
"I warn any military operation that, if we are attacked, we will defend ourselves until the last one of us dies," one of the hijackers told the BBC.
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. 'Concern'
Kenya has insisted that the shipment of tanks on board were destined for its military. The Faina is currently moored off Somalia's coast close to the town of Hoboyo. There have been conflicting reports of where the Faina and its cargo were destined.
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. Kenya has insisted that the shipment was destined for its military.
The waters off Somalia's coast are considered some of the world's most dangerous. But other sources, including a US navy spokesman, said it was bound for the autonomous government of South Sudan, in possible contravention of a peace accord.
Even ships carrying food aid are often targeted, hampering the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the estimated three million Somalis in need of aid. 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.
A Canadian navy frigate has been escorting food aid supplies for the UN World Food Programme over the last month. The waters off its coast are considered to be some of the world's most dangerous - pirates have hijacked nearly 30 ships this year and attacked many more.
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. Even ships carrying food aid are often targeted, hampering the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the estimated three million Somalis in need of assistance.
A spokesman for the UN's World Food Programme said it supplies 90% of aid to Somalia by sea but that hijackings were increasing despite the number of naval forces patrolling the shipping lanes.