<http://ads.anm.co.uk/ADCLICK/CID=fffffffcfffffffcfffffffc/pos=6/AAMSZ=468x15/SITE=DM/AREA=news/SUBAREA=worldnews/ARTICLE=1169916/acc_random=179950781/pageid=/RS=10407.10241.10247.10287.10464.10549.> Somali pirates in brazen challenge to Obama and allies as they hijack FOUR more ships... and open fire on a fifth
By David Gardner<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=David+Gardner> Last updated at 1:27 AM on 15th April 2009 - Comments (13) <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1169916/Somali-pirates-brazen-challenge-Obama-allies-hijack-FOUR-ships--open-fifth.html#comments> - Add to My Stories <http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1169916/Somali-pirates-brazen-challenge-Obama-allies-hijack-FOUR-ships--open-fifth.html> Pirates have thrown down a challenge to President Obama by hijacking another four ships and taking 60 hostages in perilous waterways off the coast of Africa. Gunmen on three small skiffs also opened fire with automatic rifles and rocket-propelled grenades at a fifth freighter yesterday. The attacks have sharply increased in the wake of Sunday's dramatic rescue of American hostage Captain Richard Phillips. And they come in defiance of Mr Obama's call for more action to tackle piracy in the region. Enlarge [image: Under attack: Somali pirates have opened fire on the Safmarine Asia this afternoon] <http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/14/article-1169916-047226AD000005DC-155_468x269_popup.jpg> Under attack: Somali pirates have opened fire on the Safmarine Asia Somali pirate leaders vowed to retaliate after three teenage hijackers were shot dead by U.S. Navy sharpshooters to free cargo ship Captain Phillips, who was held captive on a lifeboat for four days. Undeterred by threats of increased patrols, pirates snatched two freighters and two Egyptian fishing trawlers in the Gulf of Aden in just 24 hours. There were also reports of a fifth ship, the Safmarine Asia, coming under fire from pirates but it was able to escape. [image: The M.V. Seahorse, taken by pirates this morning] The M.V. Seahorse, also taken by pirates [image: The M.V. Irene, taken by pirates last night] The M.V. Irene, taken by pirates on Monday As the U.S. celebrated the safe return of Captain Phillips, more than 300 hostages from different countries were still being held captive in Somalia. Seventeen ships - all subject to multimillion ransom demands - were also docked in pirate harbours. A day after Mr Obama's warning, his top military officer, Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, insisted that the U.S. is 'well prepared' to deal with the piracy threat. Hours later, details emerged of the new attacks. Pirates used speedboats to claim two more trophies, a Lebanese-owned cargo ship, MV Seas Horse and the Greek-managed MV Irene. On Monday, Somali hijackers overpowered two Egyptian trawlers carrying 36 crewmen. In all, the pirates herded more than 60 hostages back to land. There was no immediate word of any casualties or whether the Somalis managed to board the freighter after firing on the ship in the Indian Ocean. Captain Phillips was said to be heading form Mombassa in Kenya to be reunited with his crew. He will then fly home to his wife, Andrea, and family in America. The captain was taken hostage by four pirates armed with AK-47 rifles after the crew of the Maersk Alabama repelled an attempt to seize their ship a week ago. [image: gulf-of-aden.jpg] In Washington, President Obama appeared to move the piracy issue higher on his agenda, vowing the United States would work with nations around the world to halt the rising scourge. 'I want to be very clear that we are resolved to halt the rise of piracy in that region and to achieve that goal, we're going to have to continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks,' Mr Obama said at a news conference. The 19 crew members of the Alabama celebrated their skipper's freedom with beer and an evening barbecue in the Kenyan port of Mombasa, said crewman Ken Quinn, who ventured out holding a Tusker beer - a popular brew in Kenya. Earlier, the vessel's chief mate was among those urging strong U.S. action against piracy. [image: Captain Richard Phillips (R) shakes hands with Frank Castellano, commanding officer of USS Bainbridge after being rescued by off the coast of Somalia] <http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/13/article-1169712-046C4C7F000005DC-795_468x286_popup.jpg> Captain Richard Phillips (R) shakes hands with Frank Castellano, commanding officer of USS Bainbridge after being rescued by off the coast of Somalia 'It's time for us to step in and put an end to this crisis,' Shane Murphy said. 'It's a crisis. Wake up.' The U.S. is considering new options to fight piracy, including adding Navy gunships along the Somali coastline and launching a campaign to disable pirate 'mother ships,' according to military officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because no decisions have been made yet. In Burlington, Vt., Phillips' wife, Andrea Phillips thanked Mr Obama, who approved the dramatic sniper operation. 'With Richard saved, you all just gave me the best Easter ever,' she said in a statement. The four pirates that attacked the Alabama were between 17 and 19 years old, Defence Secretary Robert Gates said. [image: A U.S. Navy image taken by the Scan Eagle UAV and a Navy P-3C Orion of the USS Bainbridgel near the lifeboat during the hostage situation in the Indian Ocean on April 9, 2009. The images were released today.] <http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/13/article-1169485-046D3502000005DC-358_468x286_popup.jpg> A U.S. Navy image taken by the Scan Eagle UAV and a Navy P-3C Orion of the USS Bainbridgel near the lifeboat during the hostage situation in the Indian Ocean on April 9, 2009 Enlarge [image: A U.S. Navy image of the lifeboat itself on April 9. Captain Richard Phillips was being held hostage on the boat at the time. He was released yesterday after U.S. snipers killed three of his pirate captors] <http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/04/13/article-1169485-046D34FE000005DC-10_468x286_popup.jpg> A U.S. Navy image of the lifeboat itself on April 9. Captain Richard Phillips was being held hostage on the boat at the time. He was released yesterday after U.S. snipers killed three of his pirate captors 'Untrained teenagers with heavy weapons,' Gates told students and faculty at the Marine Corps War College. 'Everybody in the room knows the consequences of that.' US officials were now considering whether to bring the fourth pirate, who surrendered shortly before the sniper shootings, to the United States or possibly turn him over to Kenya. Both piracy and hostage-taking carry life prison sentences under US law. The American ship had been carrying food aid bound for Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda when the ordeal began Wednesday hundreds of miles off Somalia's eastern coast. As the pirates clambered aboard and shot in the air, Phillips told his crew to lock themselves in a cabin and surrendered himself to safeguard his men. [image: The Maersk Alabama lies safely at anchor in Mombasa, Kenya last night after the hostage ordeal] The Maersk Alabama lies safely at anchor in Mombasa, Kenya last night after the hostage ordeal Phillips was then taken hostage in an enclosed lifeboat that was soon shadowed by three U.S. warships and a helicopter. Navy SEAL snipers on the USS Bainbridge got the go-ahead to fire after one pirate held an AK-47 close to Phillips' back, U.S. defense officials said. The French navy late Monday handed over the bodies of two Somali pirates killed in a hostage rescue operation last week to the authorities in the semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland, and they were buried by locals. --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. 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