The member of the pirate group said the gunmen holding the Sirius Star and its US$100-million cargo of crude oil had no intention of destroying the vessel, the largest ever seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia. --PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS
MOGADISHU - SOMALI pirates holding an oil-laden Saudi super-tanker will fight back should any military intervention to free the ship be attempted, a member of the pirate group told AFP on Saturday.
'I hope the owner of the tanker is wise enough and won't allow any military option because that would be disastrous for everybody. We are here to defend the tanker if attacked,' Abdiyare Moalim said.
Somali rebels take steps to attack tanker pirates
MOGADISHU - ISLAMIST militants in Somalia took steps on Saturday to attack pirates behind the world's biggest hijack and rescue the captured Saudi Arabian supertanker, an Islamist spokesman said.
The Sirius Star is carrying US$100 million (S$152 million) worth of oil and a 25-man crew from the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Croatia, Poland and Britain. It is thought to be anchored offshore near Haradheere, about half-way up Somalia's long coastline.
Speaking from the coastal village and pirate stronghold of Haradhere, off which the Sirius Star is anchored, he said he was one of the pirates on shore tasked with organising militias protecting the area.
Negotiations continue with the owners of the super-tanker, who on Thursday were given 10 days to pay a ransom of 25 million dollars (S$38 million).
A local fisherman told AFP that reinforcements of at least 10 well-armed men had joined the pirates holding the ship and its 25-strong crew.
'Early this morning, I saw at least 10 heavily armed pirates heading to the ship. Their boat returned after dropping them off,' Hassan Ahmed said.
The member of the pirate group said the gunmen holding the Sirius Star and its US$100-million cargo of crude oil had no intention of destroying the vessel, the largest ever seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
'Their intention is clear, I was speaking to them some minutes ago and they told me they are not going to destroy the ship or harm the crew. They are hoping to get what they demanded,' he said.
Harardhere is 300 kilometres (180 miles) north of lawless Somalia's capital Mogadishu. -- AFP
