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/7871510.stm

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
'Pirate pay-off' for weapons ship 'Pirate pay-off' for weapons ship
(about 1 hour later)
Reports from Somalia say pirates holding a Ukrainian ship loaded with weapons have received a ransom worth more than $3m (£2.1m). Reports from Somalia say pirates holding a Ukrainian ship loaded with weapons have received a ransom and are preparing to free the vessel.
The pirates seized the MV Faina and its crew of 20 off the Somali coast in September last year. The pirates seized the Kenya-bound MV Faina and its crew in September 2008.
It is the highest profile vessel in the custody of the pirates. It is the highest profile vessel in pirate custody, and there has been controversy over its cargo.
After months of tortuous negotiations and a number of stalled attempts to free it, the ship and its crew appear to be on the verge of freedom. The Kenyan government says the tanks, rocket launchers and small arms are theirs, but the manifest suggests the arms were intended for South Sudan.
Its cargo includes 33 T-72 battle tanks, spare parts, rocket launchers and small arms. 'Counting the haul'
The ship was bound for the port of Mombasa in Kenya and although the Kenyan government insisted the cargo was theirs, the manifest indicated that it was intended for South Sudan. Gunmen took control of the MV Faina and its crew of 20 on 24 September 2008 as it headed for the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
Either way, the nature of the cargo complicated and prolonged negotiations over the ransom, which now finally seems to have been paid - reportedly $3.2m. It has since been moored off the town of Harardhere, along with a number of other vessels seized by the pirates.
It is impossible to confirm whether that is indeed the case, but sources in Mombasa say the ship could be released sometime on Thursday, and it is expected to dock over the weekend. Pirates had initially demanded a ransom of $20m, but reports suggest that a figure of $3.2m (£2.2m) was agreed.
When that happens, the focus will shift to the cargo of weapons and its final destination. The US navy said that a ransom appeared to have been dropped on Wednesday and Mikhail Voitenko, said to be a spokesman for ship owner Vadim Alperin, said that the pirates were "counting the haul".
"I hope that nothing will be disrupted and the sailors will soon be able to disembark," Russian television quoted him as saying on Wednesday.
One of the pirates told the Associated Press news agency early on Thursday morning that one group of 14 pirates had already left the ship, although many more remained aboard.
A number of warships from foreign navies had been diverted to the area to monitor the situation, in part to ensure that the cargo of weaponry did not get into the hands of Somali insurgents.
When the ship is released, the focus will then shift to its cargo of weapons and its final destination, reports the BBC's Peter Greste from the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.