An official in the Ukrainian Embassy in Nairobi said Ukraine was closely watching the situation but had scant information about the hijacked ship. According to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry’s Web site, there were 21 people aboard, including 17 Ukrainians, three Russians and a Latvian. The site did not describe the cargo.
The pirates have demanded $5 million according to a follow up story in the NY Times. However, there is a chance that militaryaction may be used to get back the shp and send a signal to other Somali pirates.
On Wednesday, a Somali diplomat in Moscow announced that Somalia was inviting Russia to fight the pirates, possibly setting up a cold-war-style duel for influence like the kind that turned Somalia into a dumping ground for weapons — and problems — in the 1970s and ’80s.
Russia is known for its aggressive tactics in hostage situations, and some diplomats worry that the Russians may overreact and storm the ship.
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