Three foreign warships were surrounding the hijacked Ukrainian ship which is carrying 33 tanks for Kenya as Somali pirates holding it demanded a ransom of 20 million U.S. dollars, while threatening to sink it if any rescue operation is attempted, one of the pirates told local media on Sunday.
Sugulle Ali, one of the pirates aboard the Ukrainian ship, spoke with Shabelle Radio in the Somali capital of Mogadishu, saying that three warships and five aircrafts were surrounding the ship, describing it as "provocation".
"I see three ships surround us and five aircrafts hovering over us but that provocation cannot intimidate us," Ali told the Shabelle radio.
Ali, who is thought to be the pirate leader aboard the ship, demanded 20 million U.S. dollars as ransom for the release of the ship, its cargo and crew.
He said that his group will do all that in their disposal to defend themselves against any attack from the warships.
The Ukrainian ship was abducted early this week off the coast of Somalia's northeastern region.
The ship is carrying 33 T-72 Russia-made tanks and other small arms which many countries including the United States expressed fear that could fall into the hands of the Somali insurgency.
Source: Xinhua
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