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| Somali 'pirate' appears in court | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| A Somali teenager captured by the US during the rescue of an American sea captain from pirates has appeared in a federal court in New York. | |
| The judge briefly closed the trial to the public until he had clarified whether Abde Wale Abdul Kadhir Muse was a juvenile as his mother claimed. | |
| The judge re-opened the trial, saying the suspect would be tried as an adult. | |
| The teenager will be the first person to face piracy charges in the US in over a century, US media reports say. | |
| He cried at the hearing on Tuesday, Associated Press news agency reported. | |
| Earlier, his mother appealed to US President Barack Obama to free him. | Earlier, his mother appealed to US President Barack Obama to free him. |
| Adar Abdurahman Hassan told the BBC her son was innocent and just 16 years old. | Adar Abdurahman Hassan told the BBC her son was innocent and just 16 years old. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| • Somali pirates have freed a chemical tanker and its crew of 23 Filipinos after holding them for five months | • Somali pirates have freed a chemical tanker and its crew of 23 Filipinos after holding them for five months |
| • The Philippine government has banned its sailors from working on ships that might travel through the Gulf of Aden, where the Somali pirates operate | • The Philippine government has banned its sailors from working on ships that might travel through the Gulf of Aden, where the Somali pirates operate |
| Mother's plea | Mother's plea |
| The teenager is accused of being a member of the pirate gang which boarded the Maersk Alabama container ship on 8 April and took Capt Richard Phillips hostage in a lifeboat. | |
| The stand-off ended on the fifth day when US Navy marksmen killed three of the pirates while Abde Wale Abdul Kadhir Muse was aboard a US warship allegedly demanding a ransom. | The stand-off ended on the fifth day when US Navy marksmen killed three of the pirates while Abde Wale Abdul Kadhir Muse was aboard a US warship allegedly demanding a ransom. |
| The teenage suspect arrived in the US late on Monday, under heavy guard. | The teenage suspect arrived in the US late on Monday, under heavy guard. |
| On Monday his mother said she wanted to be present in court if the case went ahead. | On Monday his mother said she wanted to be present in court if the case went ahead. |
| She said her son had been missing for two weeks prior to the hijacking and she only realised he had been implicated when she heard his name in a radio report. | She said her son had been missing for two weeks prior to the hijacking and she only realised he had been implicated when she heard his name in a radio report. |
| She told the BBC's Somali service: "I am requesting the American government, I am requesting President Obama to release my child. He has got nothing to do with the pirates' crime. | She told the BBC's Somali service: "I am requesting the American government, I am requesting President Obama to release my child. He has got nothing to do with the pirates' crime. |
| Somali piracy: Global overview Pirates free ship five months on | Somali piracy: Global overview Pirates free ship five months on |
| "He is a minor. He is under-age and he has been used for this crime. I also request from the US, if they choose to put him on trial, I want them to invite me there." | "He is a minor. He is under-age and he has been used for this crime. I also request from the US, if they choose to put him on trial, I want them to invite me there." |
| On Sunday, the internationally-recognised but fragile Somali government said captured pirates could face the death penalty. | On Sunday, the internationally-recognised but fragile Somali government said captured pirates could face the death penalty. |
| But the Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective administration since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed piracy to thrive. | But the Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective administration since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed piracy to thrive. |
| Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to the gangs. | Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to the gangs. |