Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
31 December 2008
Mogadishu — Reports from Riyadh suggest that Saudi talks with Somali pirates to get an oil tanker released are making progress. The oil tanker, Sirius Star has been in the hands of the pirates since November 2008.
Somali pirates have reportedly agreed to release the Saudi super-tanker, Sirius Star, withdrawing a 25 million dollar ransom demand.
A mediator of the pirates holding the ship and Saudi government said that the pirates were considering releasing the ship.
The news comes amid other reports suggesting the possible release of the 'arms-laden' Ukrainian vessel, MV Faina, which was captured by Somali pirates off the Horn of Africa in September.
The capture of the 330-metre long Sirius Star, carrying two million barrels of oil on November 15, sent shockwaves through the shipping world prompting many shipping firms to consider a detour round South Africa.
The pirates demanded a $25 million ransom, but the Saudi authorities strongly opposed the idea of negotiating with hijackers and Prince Saud al-Faysal said it would be up to the owners of the vessel to decide how to deal with piracy.
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