Militia loyal to Somalia's Islamic courts have stormed and recaptured a ship hijacked by pirates off the Somali coast, regional maritime officials say.
Six of the pirates were captured after a gun battle and all 14 crew members are reported to be unharmed.
The charcoal-carrying freight vessel, seized a week ago, was being held for a $1m (£524,000) ransom.
Somalia's coastline is notorious for piracy, but incidents have declined since the Islamists took power in June.
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has promised to restore law and order in the territory it controls.
'High spirits'
A Kenyan official said the ship - the Veesham One, registered in the United Arab Emirates - was being taken to the Somali capital, Mogadishu.
"Reports indicate that two pirates are seriously injured following heavy gunfire between the Islamic militias and the pirates last night," Andrew Mwangura of the Seafarers' Assistance Programme said in the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
The crew - from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Ethiopia and Eritrea - were safe and "in high spirits", he said.
Mr Mwangura told Associated Press news agency that the pirates will be tried under Islamic law and if found guilty could have their hands cut off.
Last week, 10 Somalis captured by the US navy were sentenced to seven years in jail for piracy and hijacking by a Kenyan court.
Somalia has been in the grip of warlords and militias for years and has not had a functioning national government since 1991.
The UIC has consolidated its control over much of southern Somalia after seizing the capital.
The courts were set up by businessmen who wanted to impose law and order, and their gunmen have become Somalia's strongest fighting force.
The decline in piracy has also been attributed to foreign navy patrols.
11-08-2006, 15:25
Big King Sanctaphrax
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
What about Ninjas versus Islamists?
I've often thought it would be quite good to be a modern day pirate. Outdoors, you get to spend a lot of time near the sea, you're your own boss, good sense of comradeship and potentially very lucrative. Well, I tell a lie. Not, 'often'. More like 'just now, after reading this post about pirates'.
11-08-2006, 16:13
Ser Clegane
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BKS
What about Ninjas versus Islamists?
They should make a movie based on this idea ~:)
Perhaps they could also include snakes... :thinking:
11-08-2006, 17:19
Sir Moody
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ser Clegane
They should make a movie based on this idea ~:)
Perhaps they could also include snakes... :thinking:
no snakes are so last week lets use a grizley bear... :idea2:
11-08-2006, 17:55
sharrukin
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
[/QUOTE]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Article
The Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) has promised to restore law and order in the territory it controls.
Hats off to them as at least they are taking action to do what governments are set up to do.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Article
The courts were set up by businessmen who wanted to impose law and order, and their gunmen have become Somalia's strongest fighting force.
I hope Bill Gates doesn't hear about this! Windows Vista is bad enough.
11-08-2006, 19:36
Scurvy
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
Pirates pwn Ninjas and Islamists
11-08-2006, 20:38
BDC
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
Quote:
I hope Bill Gates doesn't hear about this! Windows Vista is bad enough.
Oh good gods. That would be... Grim. Luckily there is an ocean between them and me!
11-08-2006, 21:27
Vladimir
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
Quote:
Originally Posted by BDC
Oh good gods. That would be... Grim. Luckily there is an ocean between them and me!
:laugh4: That's why they have IE. :devil:
11-08-2006, 22:46
ajaxfetish
Re: Forget Ninjas vs. Pirates; What About Islamists vs. Pirates?
It's nice to hear about an Islamic authority doing something positive for the world. Such things don't turn up often enough here in the backroom.
