Somali pirates asked to release ship chartered by Somali company

Some internal Somali negotiating described here in the wonderful world of Somali pirates:

The agent of Al-Taji vessel that is being held by pirates in Gann coast 18 km north of Harardhere district of Mudug region in central Somalia asked for the release of the ship, which was chartered by Somali businessmen. As reliable sources told Somalinet.

Isse Sheik Elmi who is in charge of the kidnapped ship said it sailed from Dubia port on 6 April and Elmaan seaport on 23 April where it unloaded goods by Mogadishu businessmen.

"The vessel then sailed from Elmaan port on 25 April heading to port city of Kismayo, where it was due to unload goods owned by Kismayo businessmen" he said "we found pirates hijacked the ship near the coastal town of Barawe in lower Shabelle region of southern Somalia,"

The captain of ship from Libya and nine Indian crewmembers were on board the vessel, which was hired by Somali’s Kheyr shipping company.

Sheik Elmi who is now in Mogadishu said there were ongoing talks between the pirates and the shipping company over the release of the vessel but no achievements were reached on the dialogue, urging Elmaan port officials to participate in the efforts of releasing the ship.