Pirate Ships Converge On US Hostage At Sea

The U.S. Navy destroyer Bainbridge is aiding in the rescue of a kidnapped cargo ship captain taken by Somali pirates on Wednesday. Farley/U.S. Navy

From Yahoo News/AP:

NAIROBI, Kenya – Escalating a dramatic Indian Ocean standoff, more U.S. warships — as well as pirate reinforcements with an international gallery of hostages — rushed Friday toward the spot where four Somali bandits are holding a U.S. sea captain aboard a drifting lifeboat.

The pirates apparently fear being shot or arrested if they hand over Capt. Richard Phillips — captured in a failed effort to seize the Maersk Alabama on Wednesday — and hope to link up with their colleagues who are using Russian, German, Filipino and other hostages captured in recent days as human shields.

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More News On Somali Piracy

Ships Converge on Lifeboat at Sea -- Wall Street Journal
More pirates head for US stand-off -- Press Association
Somali Pirates Sending Reinforcements to Kidnappers -- Bloomberg
Captain held hostage makes swim for it, as pirates send more boats, hostages -- New York Daily News
Somali pirates demand ransom for American hostage -- Times Of India
Pirates said to recapture U.S. captain after escape bid -- Reuters
American held hostage by Somali pirates 'failed in escape bid' -- The Guardian
Captain tried to escape pirates, U.S. official says -- CNN
US captain fails in attempt to escape from pirates -- AFP
Pirate Hostage Tries To Swim To Freedom -- SKY News
Improved weather, cash fuel Somali piracy surge -- Capital News
Kidnap insurance costs soar tenfold in Gulf of Aden on escalating piracy -- China View
Anti-Piracy Operations: Game On? -- Danger Room
SCENARIOS - How will Somali-American pirate standoff end? -- Reuters
Somali pirates "smell money" as good times return -- Forbes/Reuters
Piracy big boon to Somalia economy; hotels, restaurants sprout in port of Eyl in pirates' presence -- New York Daily News
Analysis: Pirates put Obama in 21st-century bind -- Yahoo News/AP
Standoff With Pirates Shows U.S. Power Has Limits -- New York Times
Pirates and the CIA: What would Thomas Jefferson have done? -- Harper's Magazine