Sudan agrees US and Russia may use force against tank pirates

Published on Wednesday 1 October 2008 22:45

SOMALIA will allow foreign powers to use force if necessary against pirates who are holding a ship loaded with tanks for $20 million (£11.3 million) ransom. This raises the stakes for bandits currently facing off against the United States, who will soon be joined by Russia on the high seas.

Last week's hijacking of the Ukrainian ship MV Faina – carrying 33 Soviet-made T-72 tanks, rifles, and heavy weapons – was the highest profile act of piracy in the dangerous waters off Somalia this year. The ship is surrounded by several US warships and American helicopters are buzzing overhead.

Moscow has sent a warship to protect the few Russian hostages on board, but it will take a week for the ship to arrive off the coast of central Somalia, where the Faina has been anchored since Thursday. Most of the 20 crew are Ukrainian or Latvian; one Russian has died, apparently of illness.

"The international community has permission to fight with the pirates," Mohammed Jammer Ail, the Somali foreign ministry's acting permanent director, said yesterday.

He also said negotiations between the ship's Ukrainian owners and the pirates were taking place by telephone, but that "no other side is involved in negotiations".

Somalia's president, Abdullahi Yusuf, also urged foreign nations to help Somalis to fight piracy.

"The government has lost patience and now wants to fight pirates with the help of the international community," the president said yesterday in a radio address.

But there was no reaction yesterday from the estimated 30 hijackers on board the Faina to the prospect of facing two of the world's most powerful navies. Their spokesman did not answer his satellite phone.

A day earlier, the pirates denied reports that an argument over whether to surrender led to a shootout that killed three pirates. Instead, the spokesman said, they were enjoying a feast to end Ramadan.

The dangerous cargo on the Faina has drawn worldwide attention.

American military officials and diplomats say the weapons are destined for southern Sudan, but Kenyan officials insist the weapons are bound for their country.