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During the first week of October, Somali pirates stormed the MV Faina, a Ukrainain freighter using grappling hooks and AK47s to hold the crew captive. A cursory examination of the hold revealed T72 tanks, rocket propelled grenades and Russian made anti-aircraft guns stored in the hold. This weekend, the Voluntary Marines for Somalia demanded a $20 million ransom for the cargo, approximately 10 times the 'normal' ransom demand.

Washington, alarmed at the MV faina's arsenal being used by Islamists against Somalia's weak government, imediately dispatched 6 warships to surround the MV Faina in order to prevent the arsenal from being unloaded. Moscow sent a frigate ostensibly to protect the crew, however Russia is delighted to reassert their influence in this former batleground of the cold war.

France has been successful in rescuing their nationals from two recent kidnappings and recovering ransom payments with several pirates sent to France for trial.. In general, the international community seem powerless to take on the pirates, who, with powerful outboard engines and grappling hooks have defied some formidable navies.

Somali pirates extracted 'taxes' from Taiwanese trawlers eager to exploit Somalia's tuna rich waters during the Somali civil war. Recruits have flocked to the Voluntary Marines for Somalia ranks encouraged by the $30 million in ransom paid this year.

60 pirates are defending the MV Faina whose cargo Kenya claims was destined for their own armed forces. Southern Sudan is the more likely destination for this arsenal. Somali pirates sustain wild mood swings whilst constantly chewing khat, a mild narcotic, hopefully they have enough khat because Somali money changers refuse to change $100 bills which were inserted into French and German ransom payments.

Is there a solution to the Somali hooting gallery? Somali pirates are expert at pilfering cargoes even when escorted by naval vessels. Rupert Murdochs News International are apparently in contact with these pirates and negotiations are at a crucial juncture. How does a news agency have contact with these pirates? Should this news agency intervention be the subject of an investigation?

Somalia was taken over by the Union of Islamic Courts two years ago and the pirates were suppressed. The Islamists were expeled by Ethiopian Armed Forces with the help of US carrier based aircraft thereby creating a power vacuum. The pirates claim to support Somalia, when, in fact they are self supporting through ransom demands.

This standoff 16km off the Somali coast until the pirates run out of khat or food. Watch for developments.

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