Saturday, October 04, 2008
"I can't tell you when the issue will be resolved but the discussions are certainly encouraging," a pirate on the ship told AFP by phone.
The pirates have demanded a $US20 million ($25.77 million) ransom be paid for the release of the MV Faina, seized on September 25.
Piracy has been rampant off the coast of Somalia in recent months, but the Ukrainian ship is the most stunning catch so far, with a cargo of 33 combat tanks and other weaponry.
"The crew members and the Somali men on the ship are safe and in good health," the pirate said.
The MV Faina is currently moored off the coastal village of Hobyo, about 500 kilometres north of the capital Mogadishu. It is surrounded by a number of foreign warships, included US navy vessels monitoring the situation and ensuring the military equipment is not offloaded.
Source: The Sun-Herald, Oct 04, 2008