Somali pirates agree on ransom for tank ship
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Pirates guarding an arms-laden Ukrainian ship say it will be released within days, but the fate of a Saudi oil carrier was unclear hours from a $US25 million ($38 million) ransom demand's expiry.
The Ukrainian-registered MV Faina was carrying a cargo of Soviet-type T-72 battle tanks and weapons when it was hijacked in September.
Sugule Ali, a spokesman for the pirates, said it was "a matter of technicality and time" before the vessel was freed.
"I can't tell you what the ransom is, but what can I say is that agreement has finally been reached," Ali said.
"Within four days we must leave and we are preparing for the safe landing of our members," he said. "We have no doubt this problem will be resolved and I hope the owners will honour the last remaining points."
The ship has a crew of 17 Ukrainians, three Russians and one Latvian.
The US military has overflown the hijacked vessel several times to take pictures of the crew lined up on the bridge and verify that all were in good health.
"We were not interested in money only, but we were also trying to safeguard the lives of the crew and property on the ship," said Mohamed Ali, another member of the group that seized the vessel.
The MV Faina was anchored a few miles off the coast near the pirate lair of Harardhere, north of Mogadishu, and moved several times.
On Tuesday, Ali said they had lowered their ransom demand to $3 million from $8 million. At first the pirates demanded $35 million.
Pirates holding the Saudi super-tanker Sirius Star said Saturday they were hoping for a "favourable" response to their $US25 million ransom demand ahead of a deadline which expires Sunday.
- AFP
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