- Title: SOMALIA: Ten hijackers of a Panamanian ship to "face justice"
- Date: 18th October 2008
- Summary: (BN14) BOSASSO, SOMALIA (OCTOBER 17, 2008) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PUNTLAND COAST GUARD SHIP DOCKING AT PORT
- Embargoed: 2nd November 2008 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Somalia
- Country: Somalia
- Reuters ID: LVAAXZW20L6M0G7D23MQW3HR19XR
- Story Text: Ten pirates arrested for the hijack of Panamanian ship "The Wail" arrived at the northern Somali port town of Bosasso on Friday (October 17) where authorities said they will "face justice".
The Wail crewed by nine Syrian and two Somali crew was seized by heavily armed Somali gunmen last week as it carried cement to Bosasso from Oman.
Puntland security forces had seized two of the speedboats used by the pirate gang during an earlier operation, and had been surrounding the Panamanian-flagged vessel until the operation to free the ship on Tuesday (October 14) when the ten gunmen were arrested.
Authorities said the ten suspects would be taken to a local jail before they appear in court.
"The last operation was successfully done by selected Puntland coast guard and special rescue forces," Puntland State Minister Ali Abdi Ware said.
"This operation will not be the last we will continue to fight them until we clear our coastal area. Therefore we are requesting international community to assist us fighting with the pirates," he said.
Somali pirates have hijacked more than 30 ships so far this year and have received ransoms totalling $18 to 30 million U.S. dollars, making the waters off the Horn of Africa nation the world's most dangerous.
In the highest profile case for years, ransom talks are continuing after they seized a Ukrainian vessel, the MV Faina, which was loaded with 33 T-72 tanks and other weaponry. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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