MOGADISHU: Somali pirates who hijacked a Saudi Arabian supertanker moved the vessel from its location at the port city of Harardhere, after Islamist militias threatened to attack them and rescue the ship, a tribal elder said. The Islamic Courts Union warned the pirates to leave Harardhere, Ali Elmi, a local elder in the town, said in a phone interview today. The tanker was taken out to sea and its destination isn’t clear, he said. Al-Shabaab, a separate Islamist group, also said it would attack the pirates if they don’t free the ship. Somali pirates were holding the Sirius Star, laden with 2 million barrels of oil worth about $110 million, near Harardhere, which is controlled by the Islamists. The vessel was hijacked with its 25-strong crew on Nov. 15, about 420 nautical miles (833 kilometers) off Somalia. The pirates demand a $25 million ransom. The ICU warned yesterday that it will take action against pirates responsible for the “major crime” of seizing the supertanker, which belongs to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned shipping line, Vela International Marine Ltd. Al-Shabaab told the pirates holding the Saudi tanker to release it or face armed conflict, Sheikh Abdulaahi Osman, a commander of the group in Harardhere, said by phone today.
MOGADISHU: Somali pirates who hijacked a Saudi Arabian supertanker moved the vessel from its location at the port city of Harardhere, after Islamist militias threatened to attack them and rescue the ship, a tribal elder said. The Islamic Courts Union warned the pirates to leave Harardhere, Ali Elmi, a local elder in the town, said in a phone interview today. The tanker was taken out to sea and its destination isn’t clear, he said. Al-Shabaab, a separate Islamist group, also said it would attack the pirates if they don’t free the ship. Somali pirates were holding the Sirius Star, laden with 2 million barrels of oil worth about $110 million, near Harardhere, which is controlled by the Islamists. The vessel was hijacked with its 25-strong crew on Nov. 15, about 420 nautical miles (833 kilometers) off Somalia. The pirates demand a $25 million ransom. The ICU warned yesterday that it will take action against pirates responsible for the “major crime” of seizing the supertanker, which belongs to Saudi Arabia’s state-owned shipping line, Vela International Marine Ltd. Al-Shabaab told the pirates holding the Saudi tanker to release it or face armed conflict, Sheikh Abdulaahi Osman, a commander of the group in Harardhere, said by phone today.
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