Somali Piracy -- A Roundup Of News Reports For October 1, 2008

The commanding officer of a US warship monitors the pirated vessel off the coast of Somalia. The US Navy has piled pressure on Somali pirates holding out for a 20 million dollar ransom for a Ukrainian cargo ship carrying tanks and other arms. (AFP/US Navy/Jason R. Zalasky)

Somalia: World Can Use Force Against The Pirates
-- Yahoo News/AP

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Foreign powers have permission to use force if necessary against the Somali pirates who hijacked a Ukrainian ship loaded with battle tanks and heavy ammunition, Somalia's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Mohamed Jama Ali, the ministry's acting permanent director, said his country granted its permission on the condition that the foreign powers coordinate their actions with Somali government officials beforehand.

"The international community has permission to fight with the pirates," Ali told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "Permission to use force was given."

He also said that negotiations between the ship's Ukrainian owners and the pirates were taking place by telephone, but that "no other side is involved in negotiations."

Last week's hijacking of the Ukrainian ship MV Faina — carrying 33 Soviet-made T-72 tanks, rifles, and heavy weapons that U.S. defense officials have said included rocket launchers — was the highest profile act of piracy in the dangerous waters off Somalia this year.

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More News On Somali Pirates

Commandoes aboard Russian ship -- Press Association
Somalia welcomes Russian ships in pirate fight: ambassador -- AFP
Hijack Boat: Pirates 'In Talks' -- Sky News
Talks begin to free seized Ukrainian ship -- China View
Somali pirates 'negotiating' with Ukranian ship owners -- The Telegraph
Russia to use force against Somali pirates -- Reuters
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