Negotiations for release of hijacked Ukrainian ship gaining ground, pirates say
Posted by African Press International on October 6, 2008
Negotiations to secure the release of a hijacked Ukrainian ship between Somali pirates and the owners of the vessel are progressing well, a spokesman for the pirates, Sugule Ali, was quoted as saying by the media in Nairobi on Friday.
Ali said that they have not reached a deal yet, but the negotiations are going on well and gaining ground.
The vessel, MV Faina, was hijacked last Thursday about 200 miles off the coast of Somalia is loaded with tanks, artillery, grenade launchers and ammunition.
The negotiations started in earnest on Tuesday with both sides negotiating over the telephone with the pirates demanding a whooping $30 million for the release of the freighter with 21 crew members onboard.
The spokesman said that the talks are making progress and are encouraging.
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API/Source.apa
