MOGADISHU, Somalia - Soldiers of a regional government, with guns blazing, freed a Panama-flagged cargo ship Tuesday that pirates had held off the Somali coast for five days, according to an official from the region.

Also Tuesday, other pirates failed to act on their threat to blow up a Ukrainian ship laden with weapons that has been held for nearly three weeks, a U.S. military spokesman said.
The Panamanian-flagged vessel and its 11 crew members — nine Syrians and two Somalis — were freed after a gunbattle in which one soldier was killed and three wounded, said Deputy Seaport Minister Abdiqadir Muse Geele. No hostages or pirates were hurt, Geele said.
The 10 pirates who had held the ship since Thursday surrendered when they ran out of ammunition, said Geele, a deputy minister in the government of the northern Somalia semiautonomous region of Puntland.
Pirates had threatened to destroy Ukrainian ship by early Tuesday unless ransom was paid. But the U.S. Navy said the deadline passed without incident.
The MV Faina, carrying a crew of 20 and a cargo of heavy weapons, is still in one piece, said Lt. Stephanie Murdock, a spokeswoman for the 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
American warships continue to monitor the Faina, which is docked near the Somali port of Hobyo, Murdock said.
A spokesman for the pirates said Monday they were considering extending the deadline. They have held the ship and its crew for almost three weeks.
Pirates have seized more than two dozen ships this year off Somalia's coast.


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081014/...OtG2ZKI1696Q8F

I think as this rescue mission by Somali troops of one of the hijacked ships proves that Somali forces are capable enough to carry out rescue missions and foreign troops need to not come within Somali territory.

Originally Posted by UnitedSomalia

I think as this rescue mission by Somali troops of one of the hijacked ships proves that Somali forces are capable enough to carry out rescue missions and foreign troops need to not come within Somali territory.

I think that they have left their run far too late to avoid that now. If having foreign troops intervene was a concern, the Somalis should have done this within days of the hijackings.

If anything it has merely highlighted the point that they are most certainly capable, but perhaps not willing to do anything until they are backed into a corner, by the threat of outside intervention.

"I think that they have left their run far too late to avoid that now. If having foreign troops intervene was a concern, the Somalis should have done this within days of the hijackings.

If anything it has merely highlighted the point that they are most certainly capable, but perhaps not willing to do anything until they are backed into a corner, by the threat of outside intervention."

The ship was only held for 5 days, that is probably the same amount of time it took the Somali troops to negotiate and plan the rescue operation at the same time. You can't just carry out an operation without details of the ship, crew, gunmen locations, trapped areas etc.

The fact that this ship was rescued by Somali troops is due to the fact that the pirates docked this ship within an area of Somalia that is under the government control. And the reason why Somali government troops can't rescue some of the other ships is probably due to the fact that they are docked in parts of Somalia that is outside the puppet Mogadishu regime's control. Probably the other ships are docked in areas that are warlord controlled.

senojekips
If anything it has merely highlighted the point that they are most certainly capable, but perhaps not willing to do anything until they are backed into a corner, by the threat of outside intervention.

Couldn't have said it any better the Somali government is as crooked as the day is long.

UnitedSomalia
Deputy Seaport Minister Abdiqadir Muse Geele. No hostages or pirates were hurt, Geele said.
The 10 pirates who had held the ship since Thursday surrendered when they ran out of ammunition,

Funny how a Seaport Minister handles such thing in this wonder land. The no pirates hurt comment doesn't surprise me one bit there already released and planning their next hijacking, what a joke. I'm sure the Islamic Courts came down on them and made them say 100 times 'death to Americans" before letting them go.

Originally Posted by UnitedSomalia

The ship was only held for 5 days, that is probably the same amount of time it took the Somali troops to negotiate and plan the rescue operation at the same time. You can't just carry out an operation without details of the ship, crew, gunmen locations, trapped areas etc.

The fact that this ship was rescued by Somali troops is due to the fact that the pirates docked this ship within an area of Somalia that is under the government control. And the reason why Somali government troops can't rescue some of the other ships is probably due to the fact that they are docked in parts of Somalia that is outside the puppet Mogadishu regime's control. Probably the other ships are docked in areas that are warlord controlled.

The Faina is at sea several miles from shore, surely the Somali forces can raid that?

The very fact that these warlords can exist is an indictment against the Government. It is almost impossible for people from first world countries to reconcile this, to me it says that the "Government" is not really in power. The country has no actual ruling Government.

e.g If something like this was to happen in my country, I'm sure it would all be over in under 24 hours.

Originally Posted by senojekips

e.g If something like this was to happen in my country, I'm sure it would all be over in under 24 hours.

Senojekips, if something like this happened off the Coast of the Great State of Florida. the citizenry themselves would have already taken care of it. j/k

But in all seriousness. The main issue is not the Somali People. It's both the Somali Government and the Warlords. The government is about as honest as a two dollar ***** with the clap and it's has enough power to rule the country as a small mouse against steam roller.

The Warlords and the Somali Government are working hand and hand. skimming off the top, bribes, pay offs, etc....

I am for a free and just Somalia. But right now Somalia isn't that...

The way I see it, is that the "Government" may be in place, but they are not in control. Therefore they are not a true or legitimate "Government" because they don't "govern" the country.

Until this is recognised, Somalia will go nowhere. They can have all the riches imaginable, but until someone develops them they are of no use other than to attract those who wish to steal them. No one will invest in the infrastructure that's necessary for Somalia to access them while the country is at war with itself.

There is no goverment, no infrastructure nada. Hasn't been since 91. Just clans and warlords one after the other, that control portions of the entire "nation" at a time.

You'll see "government" and "rebels" working hand in hand in many cases. Both profiteer from each others presence.