Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Captured Ukrainian crew plead for help
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Search
Search:
Captured Ukrainian crew plead for help
AFP - Monday, August 31
NAIROBI (AFP) - - The Ukrainian crew of a cargo ship held for more than three months by Somali pirates pleaded Sunday for authorities to speed up efforts to gain their release and urgently evacuate a female hostage.
ADVERTISEMENT
"We are exhausted and desperate," the Ukrainian skipper of the MV Ariana, who gave his name only as Captain Voronov, told AFP by phone from the ship anchored off northern Somalia.
One of two female members of the 24-strong crew "risks death" without proper medical treatment, according to a Ukrainian doctor who spoke to her by phone from the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
The tearful young woman pleaded for help in the phone call, said the doctor, who said she ran the risk of generalised infection due to a gynaecological condition.
Both the captain and the woman spoke for about 20 minutes in a satellite phone call set up by Ecoterra International, a non-governmental organisation monitoring the impact of piracy on the region.
The pirates have up to now refused to free the woman separately.
Voronov expressed frustration in the phone call with the lack of progress in negotiations to free the crew. He demanded that pressure be put on the shipowners "so that they can begin real negotiations," adding that the crew's reserves of clean rain water was likely to run out within days.
The pirates demanded a ransom for the vessel within days of the hijacking, and a spokesman for the Athens-based owners, All Ocean Shipping, said on May 8 that negotiations were under way. But no progress has been reported since.
The Maltese-flagged vessel was seized north of Madagascar while on its way to the Middle East from Brazil on May 2 with a cargo of 10,000 tonnes of soya beans.
Ismail Haji Noor, a Somali anti-piracy official in the country's northern Galmuduug region, quoted local elders as saying that the pirates demanded five million dollars for the ship.
Noor suggested middlemen were hampering progress in the negotiations.
"Seafarers' lives should be given priority. Stop the so-called negotiators and the real owners must involve themselves directly," Noor told AFP. "We will do what we can to help without any condition."
"This ship should be the last to be held in the area. We will not allow any one to bring piracy any more into... Galmuduug state."
The Ariana is among at least six vessels currently being held by Somali pirates who ramped up attacks in the first half of this year despite the deployment of anti-piracy patrols by a multinational naval along the approaches to the Red Sea.
At least 123 sailors also remain in the hands of Somali pirates, according to Ecoterra.
Pirates attacked more than 130 merchant ships last year in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, a rise of more than 200 percent over 2007, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
More than 30,000 vessels a year transit the Gulf of Aden, heading to and from the Red Sea and the Suez Canal.
So far this year there have been 114 attempted attacks on merchant vessels in the region, 29 of them successful, according to the US navy.
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Sign in to recommend this article »
0 users recommend
Related Articles: World
Calif. fire to reach mountain's TV transmittersAP - Monday, August 31
Police: NM boy faces murder charge in dad's deathAP - Monday, August 31
Britain urges more reform of finance sectorAFP - Monday, August 31
Gabon awaits poll outcome, Bongo's son confidentReuters - Monday, August 31
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,337AP - Monday, August 31
Enlarge Photo
Pirates pictured on a skiff off Somalia's coast in 2008. The Ukrainian crew of a cargo ship held for more than three months by Somali pirates pleaded Sunday for authorities to speed up efforts to gain their release and urgently evacuate a female hostage.
Most Popular – World
Viewed
Michael Jackson's death homicide: coroner
Kidnapped US girl walks into police station 18 years on
Obama ends frenetic vacation
Microsoft apologizes for photo gaffe
Tick saliva could hold cancer cure: Brazilian scientists
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Monday, 31 August 2009 Iraq al Qaeda militant says Syria trained him
Merkel party suffers setback in state votes: exit polls
Setbacks loom for Merkel's party in election warm-up
Former Israeli prime minister Olmert indicted
Iran's president defends Cabinet amid skepticism
Merkel loses ground to left in German states
| International
|
Iraq: suspected bomber recently released by US
Iraq al Qaeda militant says Syria trained him
| International
|
Former Israeli PM Olmert indicted for corruption
| International
|
Dalai Lama arrives in Taiwan after China's protest
| International
|
Pakistan reality TV contestant drowns in challenge
Myanmar says 26 forces, 8 rebels killed at border
Cheney says he and Bush disagreed at times
Former first daughter Jenna Bush joins `Today'
Indian scientists hail aborted lunar mission
Police search neighbors' back yard in kidnap case
Hurricane Jimena off Mexico upgraded to Category 4: NHC
Blast kills 15 police recruits in Pakistan's Swat
Calif. wildfire heads north, threatens thousands
Contact lost, India terminates first moon mission
Despite pedigree, Hatoyama had long wait in wings
Blackwater tapped foreigners on secret CIA program
Cheney says politics behind CIA probe at Justice
Dalai Lama says Taiwan visit is 'non-political'
Hatoyama not likely to change US-Japan alliance
Police: 1 killed in small plane crash in Pa.
Democrats: Honor Kennedy through civil debate
Death toll rises to 19 in Indonesian ship sinking
Boat sinks in Indonesia, '19 dead, 20 missing'
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Horror, violence lure movie fans
| Entertainment
|
Cranberries reunite for tour after seven years
Bush daughter Jenna Hager becomes 'Today' reporter
Cranberries reunite for tour after seven years
| Entertainment
|
Horror, violence lure movie fans
Anti-Taliban ops claim high toll in Afghanistan
Merkel challenger refuses to be ruled out
Japan Democrats take power, tough challenges loom
| International
|
Britain urges more reform of finance sector
American commander: US on the road out of Iraq
Obama ends frenetic vacation
Dalai Lama tells Taiwan he's dedicated to democracy
| International
|
British immigration centres hold 470 children: report
Suspected Taliban torch NATO supplies in SW Pakistan
| International
|
Democrats, Republicans rejoin fight after Kennedy farewell
Iraq: suspected bomber recently released by US
Captured Ukrainian crew plead for help
Myanmar refugees begin warily returning from China
| International
|
Former Israeli PM Olmert indicted for corruption
Gabon awaits poll outcome, Bongo's son confident
| International
|
Merkel party suffers setback in election warm-up
Colombia says president has swine flu
| International
|
Thai politics a drag on economic recovery: Fitch
| International
|
Russia says kills al Qaeda agent in North Caucasus
| International
|
World Bank in talks with Cambodia over evictions
| International
|
LG Display in deal for China LCD plant
Great expectations for Japan's victorious Democrats
Dalai Lama tells Taiwan he's dedicated to democracy
Calls for fast action in Japan after historic vote
Myanmar says 34 killed as border fighting ends
Hatoyama not likely to change US-Japan alliance
Blast kills 16 Pakistan cadets; NATO trucks bombed
Firefighters battle blaze near small Utah town
Protest accuses Dalai Lama of 'politics' in Taiwan
LG Display in deal for China LCD plant
| Technology
|
Report: US makes $4 billion from bailout banks
Analysis: Democrats tasked with delivering change
Pakistan: Border blast sets NATO fuel trucks afire
US parties rejoin fight after Kennedy farewell
Japan suffer 59-year world championship low
3 Texas boaters missing for a week rescued at sea
`The Bold and the Beautiful' wins drama series
Police: 8th person dead in Ga. mobile home attack
Calif. fire to reach mountain's TV transmitters
Police: NM boy faces murder charge in dad's death
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,337
Schumer proposal aims to avert crashes over Hudson
Highlights of Hollywood's fall, holiday schedule
Vampires, werewolves, liars lead fall film cast
CORRECTED-UPDATE 1-LG Display in deal for China LCD plant
Taiwan dollar firms on exporters, foreign funds
China Southern Airlines says 1H profit down 97 pct
Seoul shares down; Hyundai Mobis falls, techs rise
Arab TV looks to Ramadan to offset losses
India hungry for foreign oil despite home finds
Japan industrial production up 1.9 percent in July
`The Bold and the Beautiful' wins drama series
Winners at 36th annual Daytime Emmy Awards
Japan's factory output rises 1.9 pct in July
Rachel Ray, Tyra Banks win talk show Emmys
| Entertainment
|
Korea Hot Stocks
Emmy Awards struggle to stay relevant to viewers
S.Korea says needs global cooperation on exit plan
S.Korea T-bond futures rise, key economy data eyed
Actress puts the 'Mad Men' in their place
Pakistan reality TV contestant drowns in challenge
Actress puts the Mad Men in their place
| Entertainment
|
WW2 singer Vera Lynn returns to British album charts
3-D flick 'Final Destination' tops North American box office
Star Trek veteran boldly saved movie franchise
| Entertainment
|
Madonna tours Jewish holy sites in Jerusalem
No talks without full settlement freeze
US-TECH Summary
Madonna makes late-night visit to Western Wall
Ahmadinejad cabinet faces growing opposition
AMD ships lower power server chip
LG Display in deal for China LCD plant
Afghan vote fraud claims soar
Afghan officials on democracy's front line
Ridge: Talk of terror-alert politics exaggerated
LA-area blaze size doubles, threatens 12,000 homes
Sniffer dogs search home in US abduction case
The Nation's Weather
Experts: Abductees such as Jaycee stay out of fear
Convicted killer on trial in Texas triple homicide
Raging California wildfires leave two dead
Vogo Fund to buy S.Korea card firm stake for $156 mln
India's economic growth accelerates to 6.1 percent
Pakistani stocks end 1.5 pct higher; rupee firms
Japan industrial production up 1.9 percent in July
SKorea industrial output faster-than-expected rise
Japan's post-election market euphoria short-lived
India's economy grows at 6.1 pct Apr-June quarter
Japan stocks slip on worries about yen, policies
Seoul shares fall; Hyundai Mobis, shipbuilders down =2
US storm as Mohammed cartoons edited out of book
Highlights of Hollywood's fall, holiday schedule
Vampires, werewolves, liars lead fall film cast
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights