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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| FBI in hostage talks with Somalis | FBI in hostage talks with Somalis |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The US Navy has called in FBI hostage negotiators to help secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates in a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean. | |
| Capt Richard Phillips was taken from the Maersk Alabama cargo ship after it was briefly seized by pirates. | Capt Richard Phillips was taken from the Maersk Alabama cargo ship after it was briefly seized by pirates. |
| A US warship on anti-pirate patrol in the high-risk area sailed to the ship. | A US warship on anti-pirate patrol in the high-risk area sailed to the ship. |
| Maritime sources believe the pirates want the warship to withdraw, a ransom for the captain and compensation for a skiff that sank during the attack. | Maritime sources believe the pirates want the warship to withdraw, a ransom for the captain and compensation for a skiff that sank during the attack. |
| FBI spokesman Richard Kolko said the navy had called his hostage experts "to assist with negotiations". | |
| He said the FBI was now "fully engaged in this matter". | |
| 'Dead in the water' | |
| The lifeboat - from the Maersk Alabama - is equipped for more than a week at sea. | The lifeboat - from the Maersk Alabama - is equipped for more than a week at sea. |
| However, a spokesman for the ship's owners, Maersk, said the lifeboat was out of fuel. | However, a spokesman for the ship's owners, Maersk, said the lifeboat was out of fuel. |
| "The boat is dead in the water," Kevin Speers told Associated Press Radio. | "The boat is dead in the water," Kevin Speers told Associated Press Radio. |
| Is there a 19th Century solution? | Is there a 19th Century solution? |
| "It is floating near the Alabama. It's my understanding that it is floating freely." | "It is floating near the Alabama. It's my understanding that it is floating freely." |
| The Maersk Alabama, carrying food aid destined for Somalia and Uganda, was taken about 500km (311 miles) off Somalia's coast on Wednesday. | The Maersk Alabama, carrying food aid destined for Somalia and Uganda, was taken about 500km (311 miles) off Somalia's coast on Wednesday. |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the government was following the situation very closely and urged the world to act to end the "scourge" of piracy. | US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the government was following the situation very closely and urged the world to act to end the "scourge" of piracy. |
| There were 50 hijacks amid 130 incidents last year by Somali pirates, but this was the first time Americans had been seized. | There were 50 hijacks amid 130 incidents last year by Somali pirates, but this was the first time Americans had been seized. |
| Mohamed Omaar, the foreign minister in Somalia's fragile transitional government, told AP that the pirates were "playing with fire". | |
| He said they have "got themselves into a situation where they have to extricate themselves because there is no way they can win". | |
| Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed the pirates to thrive. | |
| 'Ransom' | 'Ransom' |
| On Wednesday, US media organisations telephoned members of the ship's crew to get details of their struggle against the pirates. | On Wednesday, US media organisations telephoned members of the ship's crew to get details of their struggle against the pirates. |
| Second mate Ken Quinn told US TV network CNN how the crew had captured one of the pirates and kept him tied up for 12 hours. | Second mate Ken Quinn told US TV network CNN how the crew had captured one of the pirates and kept him tied up for 12 hours. |
| Capt Phillips's wife says he was aware of increased pirate activity | Capt Phillips's wife says he was aware of increased pirate activity |
| As they attempted to negotiate the release of their captain, who has been named as Richard Phillips, they freed the captive pirate. | As they attempted to negotiate the release of their captain, who has been named as Richard Phillips, they freed the captive pirate. |
| But the gang refused to free Capt Phillips. | But the gang refused to free Capt Phillips. |
| "Right now they want to hold our captain for ransom, and we are trying to get him back," second mate Quinn told CNN. | "Right now they want to hold our captain for ransom, and we are trying to get him back," second mate Quinn told CNN. |
| "So now we're just trying to offer them whatever we can - food. But it's not working too good." | "So now we're just trying to offer them whatever we can - food. But it's not working too good." |
| He said the attackers had fled in a lifeboat and crew members were using radios to keep in contact with Capt Phillips. | He said the attackers had fled in a lifeboat and crew members were using radios to keep in contact with Capt Phillips. |
| Family members said Capt Phillips had offered himself to the pirates to secure the safety of his crew. | Family members said Capt Phillips had offered himself to the pirates to secure the safety of his crew. |
| "What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," Gina Coggio, his wife's half-sister, told the AP news agency. "That is what he would do. It's just who he is and his response as a captain." | "What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," Gina Coggio, his wife's half-sister, told the AP news agency. "That is what he would do. It's just who he is and his response as a captain." |
| Surge in hijackings | Surge in hijackings |
| The ship was first attacked by several pirate boats in the early hours of Wednesday. | The ship was first attacked by several pirate boats in the early hours of Wednesday. |
| It is not clear how many attackers were involved, but accounts from the sailors on the Maersk Alabama suggest that four boarded the vessel. | It is not clear how many attackers were involved, but accounts from the sailors on the Maersk Alabama suggest that four boarded the vessel. |
| Maritime officials said the ship had taken all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. | Maritime officials said the ship had taken all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. |
| Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about $80m (£54m). | Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about $80m (£54m). |
| After a lull earlier this year, this was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in the past week. | After a lull earlier this year, this was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in the past week. |
| The attacks are threatening to destabilise one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. | The attacks are threatening to destabilise one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. |