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Pirates vow to fight if attacked by US
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-10 20:32 Pirate sources in Somalia told Reuters they had sent two boats full of armed men to help their colleagues on the lifeboat. The two boats were staying far apart, to help evade patrols, but were nervous of approaching due to the naval ships. The USS Bainbridge has called on the FBI and other US officials to help negotiate with the pirates.
US military officials said more forces were on the way and that all options were on the table to save the captain. "We're definitely sending more ships down to the area," a defense official told Reuters. He said one of the ships would be the USS Halyburton, a guided missile frigate that has two helicopters on board.
It also brought a massive international response, with ships from the United States, Europe, China, Japan and others flocking to the region to protect the sea-routes. As the patrols mainly focused on the Gulf of Aden, the gateway to the Suez, the pirates began moving further afield and have been striking as far south as Indian Ocean waters near the Seychelles and Madagascar. Analysts say the attack on the Alabama could lead to a new phase in international efforts to stop piracy. "Piracy may be a centuries-old crime, but we are working to bring an appropriate, 21st-century response," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. With a vast area for the pirates to roam in, however, analysts say the only real solution is peace and stable government in Somalia itself.
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