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/7993210.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US navy bears down on pirate boat | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| US military chiefs are bolstering their forces around the Horn of Africa to help tackle Somali pirates holding a US captain hostage in a drifting lifeboat. | |
| Gen David Petraeus said reinforcements would arrive within 24 to 48 hours and that a warship already in the area was "literally right near" the lifeboat. | |
| FBI experts are helping negotiate the release of Capt Richard Phillips. | |
| He was captured in a struggle on his ship, Maersk Alabama. Pirates seized the ship but the crew fought them off. | He was captured in a struggle on his ship, Maersk Alabama. Pirates seized the ship but the crew fought them off. |
| The vessel has now set sail for the Kenyan port of Mombasa under armed guard. | The vessel has now set sail for the Kenyan port of Mombasa under armed guard. |
| 'Nothing more than criminals' | 'Nothing more than criminals' |
| The announcement of reinforcements came amid rising concern over the fate of Capt Phillips. | |
| Capt Phillips' sister-in-law Lea Coggino says he is "a smart guy who is in control" | Capt Phillips' sister-in-law Lea Coggino says he is "a smart guy who is in control" |
| "The safe return of the captain is the top priority," US Defence Secretary Robert Gates told reporters in Washington. | |
| The cruise-missile carrying USS Bainbridge was sent to the scene in a move analysts say will strengthen the hand of US negotiators. | |
| Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the attackers as "nothing more than criminals". | Secretary of State Hillary Clinton described the attackers as "nothing more than criminals". |
| "We are bringing to bear a number of our assets, including naval and FBI, in order to resolve the hostage situation and bring the pirates to justice," she said. | "We are bringing to bear a number of our assets, including naval and FBI, in order to resolve the hostage situation and bring the pirates to justice," she said. |
| Gen Petraeus said the additional US forces would "ensure that we have all the capability that might be needed over the course of the coming days". | |
| There are thought to be four pirates with Capt Phillips in the lifeboat, which has reportedly run out of fuel, and it is not yet clear what they are demanding. | |
| Capt Phillips has a radio and contacted the navy and crew of his ship to say he was unharmed, the Maersk shipping company said in a statement. | Capt Phillips has a radio and contacted the navy and crew of his ship to say he was unharmed, the Maersk shipping company said in a statement. |
| A Somali who claimed to be a pirate leader told AFP news agency he would send support to the other pirates. | A Somali who claimed to be a pirate leader told AFP news agency he would send support to the other pirates. |
| "We are planning to reinforce our colleagues who told us that a navy ship was closing in on them and I hope the matter will soon be solved," a man AFP named as Abdi Garad said by phone from the Somali pirate lair of Eyl. | "We are planning to reinforce our colleagues who told us that a navy ship was closing in on them and I hope the matter will soon be solved," a man AFP named as Abdi Garad said by phone from the Somali pirate lair of Eyl. |
| It was not possible to verify his identity. | It was not possible to verify his identity. |
| Destabilisation concern | Destabilisation concern |
| Analysts have said negotiations could be lengthy, with the pirates likely to want a hefty ransom for the captain as well as compensation for a boat that was wrecked in the attack. | Analysts have said negotiations could be lengthy, with the pirates likely to want a hefty ransom for the captain as well as compensation for a boat that was wrecked in the attack. |
| Is there a 19th Century solution? Profile: Capt Richard Phillips | Is there a 19th Century solution? Profile: Capt Richard Phillips |
| The cargo ship, carrying food aid destined for Somalia and Uganda, was seized about 500km (311 miles) off Somalia's coast in the early hours of Wednesday. | The cargo ship, carrying food aid destined for Somalia and Uganda, was seized about 500km (311 miles) off Somalia's coast in the early hours of Wednesday. |
| After a long struggle, the crew members regained control of the ship. | After a long struggle, the crew members regained control of the ship. |
| It is thought that Capt Phillips offered himself as a hostage in order to save his crew. | It is thought that Capt Phillips offered himself as a hostage in order to save his crew. |
| Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed the pirates to thrive. | Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed the pirates to thrive. |
| 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, the Maersk Alabama was the sixth ship hijacked off Somalia in the past week. | After a lull earlier this year, the Maersk Alabama was the sixth ship hijacked off Somalia in the past week. |
| The UN's Somalia envoy, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, told Reuters that piracy was threatening to destabilise the region. | The UN's Somalia envoy, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, told Reuters that piracy was threatening to destabilise the region. |