Posted on 11/22/2008 7:40:27 AM PST by DeaconBenjamin
The fighters from the Shabaab militia, a fundamentalist movement likened to an African Taliban, were reported to have turned up in the port of Haradheere in southern Somalia, close to where the tanker is currently anchored.
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The pirate group that hijacked the tanker, which is carrying $100 million worth of oil, have demanded a $25 million ransom for return of the vessel and its 25-strong crew, which includes two Britons.
"The Islamists arrived searching for the pirates and the whereabouts of the Saudi ship," said a clan elder in Haradheere.
"I saw four cars full of Islamists driving in the town from corner to corner. The Islamists say they will attack the pirates for hijacking a Muslim ship."
But other residents believed the Shabaab's motives were not altruistic. "There are many militiamen who have arrived in the town and they want to get a share from the pirates if the ransom is paid," claimed Ahmed Abdullahi, another clan elder.
The Shabaab fighters used to be the armed wing of the Islamic Courts Union, an Islamist organisation that briefly brought peace to Mogadishu two years ago before being deposed by the weak but internationally-backed transitional federal government.
During their time in power the courts union also virtually eradicated piracy. Since the Islamists' fall, the Shabaab has started up a guerrilla war against the new government, and is thought to seek a share of the pirates' spoils to finance its military campaign.
Meanwhile, the pirate crew on board the captured tanker are building up their defences against any rescue attempt by foreign warships in the area. Extra fighters and supplies of food are thought be coming into Harardhare, known as a pirate safe haven.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
yeah, Right! The Somali Muslim Conncil is sponsoring the Pirates.
The only way these Pirates would be killed by Muslims is because they are double agents for the CIA, and other foreign Intel agencies.
Terrorists to the rescue, eh? So the Saudi Royal family is back to hiding behind al Qaeda again, eh?
One band of robbers trying to steal from another.
EXACTLY. They smell the money.
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