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Somali Pirates Threaten to Burn Ship
Somali pirates, who captured the Ukrainian ship Faina loaded with tanks and other military equipment last month, are threatening to kill the crew and burn the ship in the next 24 hours unless a ransom is paid to them, ITAR-TASS reports, citing Somali radio. Last week, the press reported that the crew would be killed “within days.” On October 22, reporters from the Ukrainian publication Today were able to reach the pirates, one of whom said in a telephone interview that “the crew might die… tomorrow maybe.”
In spite of the threats, there have been no reports of deaths on the ship.
The Faina was captured in Somali territorial waters on September 25. It was carrying a shipment of T-72 tanks and missile complexes to an African country, either Kenya or Sudan, according to varying reports. The pirates claim to have 20 sailors hostage. The captain of the ship, a Russian citizen, died of a heart attack several days after the capture of the ship. The pirates are demanding $20 million to free the ship and its crew.
www.kommersant.com
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