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U.S. captain rescued; three pirates reported killed
By Lisa Twaronite
Last update: 1:55 p.m. EDT April 12, 2009Comments: 25
SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- U.S. military officials said the kidnapped captain of the U.S. container ship seized by Somali pirates has been rescued, according to media reports Sunday. Three pirates were killed in the operation to free Captain Richard Phillips and another pirate is in custody, the BBC reported on its Web site. Phillips had tried to swim to freedom Friday but was recaptured, reports said.
The American captain being held by Somalian pirates made an unsuccessful attempt to escape Friday amid reports other pirates are moving more hostage-laden ships to the scene of the standoff.
Capt. Richard Phillips jumped over the side of the small lifeboat where he has been held for two days and started swimming in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia, said officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Pirates recaptured him and a U.S. navy ship patrolling nearby said they saw Phillips moving around and talking after his return to the covered lifeboat.
The incident occurred around midnight local time, said the defence officials, who believe Phillips remains unharmed.
Phillips is being held by four Somalian pirates who were part of a larger group that tried to hijack the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama in waters near the Horn of Africa on Wednesday.
The cargo ship's crew thwarted the hijack attempt, but the pirates escaped in a lifeboat with Phillips. Reports say the 8.5-metre-long lifeboat has run out of fuel as U.S. naval ships move into the region.
An FBI hostage negotiator is working with American military officials aboard the USS Bainbridge, which is patrolling nearby.
Officials on the vessel are also communicating with the pirates via satellite phone.
U.S. Central Command chief Gen. David Petraeus said U.S. warships are heading to the area.
"We want to ensure that we have all the capability that might be needed over the course of the coming days," he said.
Capt. James Staples, a classmate of Phillips at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, said he wasn't surprised by the escape attempt.
"That just shows me that Richie's still strong, he's thinking, he's alert," Staples said. "He's going to take every opportunity he can to ... to make the situation a lot better for himself and probably get home as quick as he can."
Pirates send more ships
The pirates holding Phillips also appear to have called for their own reinforcements.
Reports from the pirate stronghold of Eyl, Somalia, suggest pirates there have sailed at least four other hijacked vessels toward the lifeboat to make it difficult for the U.S. to stage a rescue.
On those boats are dozens of hostages, including citizens of China, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, the Philippines, Tuvalu, Indonesia and Taiwan.
A Somalian man who lives in Eyl told the Associated Press the vessels included a German cargo vessel and Taiwanese fishing boat.
One of the pirates on the lifeboat told Reuters during a phone interview they are "not afraid of the Americans."
"We will defend ourselves if attacked," the pirate was quoted by Reuters as saying.
While U.S. President Barack Obama has not commented on the situation, he assigned top aides to reassure the country.
"These people are nothing more than criminals and we are bringing to bear a number of our assets, including naval and FBI, in order to resolve the hostage situation and bring the pirates to justice," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday.
"Piracy may be a centuries-old problem, but we are working to bring an appropriate 21st-century response."
French, Norwegian ships freed
U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden said the administration was working "around the clock" on the matter. Attorney General Eric Holder said the United States will "do what we have to do" to protect U.S. shipping interests against pirates.
Phillips is one of roughly 270 foreign hostages being held by Somalian pirates who plague the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
It's believed 18 ships are being held.
There were developments Friday in two other hijackings by Somalian pirates:
One hostage and two pirates were killed when the French navy stormed a French sailboat hijacked Saturday in the Gulf of Aden. Four adults and one child were on board the ship, but it's not clear who was killed.
Somalian pirates released a Norwegian-owned tanker after receiving a reported $2.9-million ransom payment from the vessel's owner. The ship, which had been held since the end of March, had an international crew of 27.
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Caught On Camera: Somali Piratesby husnain6749,053 views
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