Somalia: unconfirmed reports Pirates attacked

sail-world.com ^ | April 8, 2008

[HAL9000]

The mayor of a small coastal village in northern Somalia dismissed media reports that the 288 feet French luxury yacht Le Ponant hijacked by pirates on Friday Apr. 4 in the Gulf of Aden has anchored near the village of Eyl, 500ikm north of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Abdullahi Said O'Yusuf, the mayor of Eyl, told Africa’s Radio Garowe last night that the hijacked French yacht had passed Eyl and headed south towards coastal waters off the region of Mudug, in central Somalia.

Initial reports were that the French yacht and its 32-member crew had docked near the coastal village of Eyl.

But Mayor O'Yusuf, who reached the Puntland capital city of Garowe today, repeatedly denied the widespread reports, saying that the townspeople of Eyl would 'not allow' the pirates to dock near their small fishing village.

Yusuf, said he would be 'happy... to see the pirates killed' as a small French warship, the Commandant Bouan, maintained permanent surveillance of the vessel.

'The French and American ships must attack the pirates. They have our blessing,' Mr Ghelle said, adding that the hijackers have been encouraged by ransoms paid in previous ship seizures.

'These pirates are terrorists and there is no need to negotiate with them.

'Attacking them will solve future piracy plans.'

In Paris, a defence source said troops from the gendarmerie's elite counter-terrorism and hostage rescue unit were sent to Djibouti where they will remain until further orders.

Unconfirmed reports emerging from the region of Mudug said the hijacked ship had reached a small coastal town on the Central Somali coast where armed villagers engaged the pirates in a skirmish that killed at least two people.

Clan elders in Mudug contacted by Radio Garowe said they had heard of the report, but declined to comment until they reach the remote location for confirmation.

[GOP_Party_Animal]

The pirate captain was quoted as saying, “Arrrr!”.

[El Gato]

...the hijackers have been encouraged by ransoms paid in previous ship seizures.

'These pirates are terrorists and there is no need to negotiate with them.

'Attacking them will solve future piracy plans.'

Worked for Jefferson and Monroe on and off the "Shores of Tripoli", when dealing with other Mussleman pirates.

Millions for Defense, Not One Cent For Tribute.

[El Gato]

The pirate captain was quoted as saying, “Arrrr!”.

These pirates are more likely to say "Allahu Akbar", even if their motivation is more mercenary than religious.

[dynachrome]

With modern technology, shouldn’t the whereabouts of this ship be easily determined?

[El Gato]

Unconfirmed reports emerging from the region of Mudug said the hijacked ship had reached a small coastal town on the Central Somali coast where armed villagers engaged the pirates in a skirmish that killed at least two people.

Somali Militia?

Who knew.

[El Gato]

With modern technology, shouldn’t the whereabouts of this ship be easily determined?

Sure, I'm sure the French and US Navies know exactly where it is. Doesn't mean they are telling. Let the pirates worry about if those Navies have accurate information or not.

[mad_as_he$$]

You might be surprised how hard it is to find a 400 foot ship in the world.

[dynachrome]

I’m thinking that area it could be in is relatively small.

The pirates aren’t taking it to Cuba!

[phrogphlyer]

“Abdullahi Said O’Yusuf, the mayor of Eyl”

Irish-Somali?

[fso301]

a small French warship, the Commandant Bouan, maintained permanent surveillance of the vessel.

So, it seems as if the whereabouts is known.

[dynachrome]

Probably just getting the people and equipment together for a little punitive expediton, then.

[SengirV]

'The French and American ships must attack the pirates. They have our blessing,' Mr Ghelle said

Hahahahahha. good luck with that Mr. Ghelle. The French have an aversion to any form of justified use of military force.

[Dumpster Baby]

The pirate captain was quoted as saying, “Arrrr!”.

[Chode]

Capt. Pissgums and his Perverted Pirates vs the Dyke's!!!

Pathos on the High Seas, below decks... on his ship the Quivering Thigh

[ozzymandus]

I remember that comic. I believe the dykes won. Maybe Rosie could take her cruise ship to Somalia.

[mad_as_he$$]

Probably is; but if the story about where they docked was fake they could be a thousand miles in the other direction. That is a very big ocean.

[Chode]

AAARRRRrrrrrrrrr...

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Unconfirmed reports emerging from the region of Mudug said the hijacked ship had reached a small coastal town on the Central Somali coast where armed villagers engaged the pirates in a skirmish that killed at least two people.

[elmer fudd]

When a 288’ yacht gets hijacked warships are dispatched to the area, but if it were some poor schmuck in their 33’ sailboat they’d just be lucky to escape with their lives.