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Pirates seize 30 Russian T-72 Tanks

Once again they might have a deal... we have heard this before though!
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Faina representative: Ransom to be paid soon for Ukrainian crew's release</b>

The ransom for the release of the Faina, a Ukrainian ship seized by Somali pirates, has been agreed, the ship-owner's representative, Viktor Murenko, said at a press conference on Thursday.

He said that a UN Security Council resolution foresees restrictions on the sum of ransoms.

Murenko said that these restrictions had been removed thanks to Ukraine's representatives in the UN Security Council.

"Only yesterday at 0900, the sum of the ransom was raised to the level they [the pirates] demanded," he said.

He refused to specify the amount and added that it had been agreed and that the crewmembers would be soon released.

As reported, the Ukrainian ship Faina was hijacked by Somali pirates in neutral waters outside Kenya on September 25, 2008. The vessel was sailing under the flag of Belize to Kenya, with around 30 T-72 tanks and spare parts for them on board. There were 21 crewmembers aboard the ship - 17 Ukrainians, three Russians, and one Latvian citizen. One Russian citizen has since died.

The ship-owner is Iraeli citizen Vadym Alperin.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Original story here :
<a href="http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/34000" target="_blank">http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/34000</a>
 
Ok, looks like things might finally be coming to an end. I haven't been able to find any confirmation that the ship has been released yet though.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Somali pirates announce immediate release of Ukrainian ship</b>
www.chinaview.cn 2009-02-03 16:10:37

NAIROBI, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Somali pirates who have been holding a Ukrainian ship with military weapons on board have announced their intention to immediately release the ship along with its 20 crew members.

Andrew Mwangura, East Africa's Coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) said the pirates may very soon release the MV Faina which was captured in September with its 20-man crew and a cargo of Soviet-era T-72 tanks.

"We have heard that the pirates are willing to release the ship.This may be possible because the pirates are in direct contacts with the ship owners," Mwangura told Xinhua by telephone on Tuesday.

The development came after Ukraine's foreign ministry urged theowner of the Faina vessel to publicly report on progress made in the talks to free the crew.

The Ukrainian ministry said the ship owner is in talks with the pirates and is informed of the details of the negotiations.

The MV Faina is currently moored off Somalia's coast close to the town of Hobyo. There have been conflicting reports of where the Faina and its cargo were destined.

Kenya has insisted that the shipment was destined for its military. But regional diplomats said it was bound for the autonomous government of south Sudan, in possible contravention ofa peace accord.

The waters off the Somali coast are considered to be some of the world's most dangerous. Pirates have hijacked several ships last year and attacked many more.

Most attacks have been in the Gulf of Aden between Yemen and north Somalia, a major route leading to the Suez Canal linking Europe and Asia.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Original story here :
<a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/03/content_10757263.htm" target="_blank">http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-02/...nt_10757263.htm</a>
 
Looks like it's official, $3.2 million ransom has been delivered. The Faina should be free shortly, I'm curious to see exactly where these tanks end up next.

<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Pirates receive $3.2M for Israeli ship</b>
Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:28:54 GMT
The Israeli-owner of a Ukrainian-flagged arms-loaded ship held by Somali pirates pays 3.2 million dollars in return for the vessel's release.

The MV Faina and its crew-- 17 Ukrainians, three Russians and one Latvian national-were captured on September 25 in the notorious Somali waters.

The vessel was carrying with a cargo of 33 Soviet-type battle tanks, rocket launchers and ammunition, allegedly expected to reach rebels in the Sudanese violent Darfur region.

On Tuesday, a plane from South Africa carrying $ 3.2 million dropped the demanded ransom onto the Faina upon an agreement between the pirates and the ship's owner, Press TV correspondent reported.

The pirates said they will release the ship in a few hours, as soon as they count the sum and confirm there are no warships to hunt them.

The news comes after the Israeli owner of the vessel had earlier refused to hold talks with the bandits, who had repeatedly threatened the lives of the crew members unless they were paid a multi-million ransom.

The capture of the arms-laden ship four months ago triggered a controversy over the cargo's final destination.

The pirates' spokesman Sugule Ali said in October that the ship was originally destined for Sudan using the Kenyan port city of Mombasa as a stopover.

Sudan's state media also revealed the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), Darfur's most powerful rebel group, has received considerably heavy military logistical support from<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Original story here :
<a href="http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=84529&sectionid=351020501" target="_blank">http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=84529...ionid=351020501</a>
 
After almost five months, all pirates have left the MV Faina!
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><b>Ukrainian ship freed by Somali pirates</b>
Reuters

MOGADISHU: Somali pirates released the Ukrainian ship MV Faina on Thursday after receiving a ransom, a local man who helped negotiate the deal said.

"The last group of pirates has got down now and MV Faina is released," the man, who asked not to be named, told Reuters from the Somali port of Haradheere.

The MV Faina was captured in September with its 20-man crew and a cargo of 33 Soviet-era T-72 tanks plus other weapons. Its seizure drew international attention, not only for its military cargo, but for a regional row over the destination of the tanks.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Original story here :
<a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/02/05/africa/OUKWD-UK-SOMALIA-PIRACY-RELEASE.php" target="_blank">http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2009/0...ACY-RELEASE.php</a>
 
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