Somalian pirates shoot at each other

Denver News.Net
Tuesday 30th September, 2008

A shoot-out between Somali pirates has occurred on a seized Ukranian ship.

The hijacked cargo ship loaded had been taken last week by gunmen who demanded a US$20 million ransom.

It is known there are pirates from two different clans on board the Ukrainian-operated Faina.

The Somali pirates apparently started shooting at each other after an argument over how to proceed with the hijacking.

The situation around the vessel has become very tense, with US naval ships surrounding it.

Destroyers and cruisers are standing off about 16 kilometres from the Faina, which is stocked with 33 72-T tanks and other weapons which had supposedly been destined for Kenya.

But US military sources have said they were bound for the autonomous government of South Sudan, in possible contravention of a UN arms embargo.

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