Somali pirates demand $25M for Saudi ship

Published: Nov. 20, 2008 at 9:53 AM
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The Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star is seen at anchor in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia on November 19, 2008. The large, Saudi-owned crude carrier was hijacked by Somali pirates on November 15 about 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya and forced to proceed to anchorage near Harardhere, Somalia. (UPI Photo/William S. Stevens/U.S. Navy)
The Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star is seen at anchor in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia on November 19, 2008. The large, Saudi-owned crude carrier was hijacked by Somali pirates on November 15 about 450 nautical miles off the coast of Kenya and forced to proceed to anchorage near Harardhere, Somalia. (UPI Photo/William S. Stevens/U.S. Navy) | Enlarge Enlarge
MOGADISHU, Somalia, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Somali pirates demanded $25 million in ransom for the hijacked Saudi-owned supertanker Sirius Star and set a 10-day deadline, authorities said Thursday.

"We do not want long-term discussions to resolve the matter," one of the pirates, identified as Mohamed Said, told The Times of London in a telephone interview from the ship anchored off the Somali coast.

"The Saudis have 10 days to comply, otherwise we will take action that could be disastrous."

The Sirius Star, with a cargo of 2 million barrels of oil, was seized last weekend in the Indian Ocean some 500 miles off the coast of Kenya, the farthest from Somalia of any of the recent hijackings.

Officials said the ship is anchored at the Somali pirate lair of Harardhere. It has a crew of 25.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



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