Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

Somalia: Iran Tries Diplomacy to Get Hijacked Sailors Released By Pirates

23 August 2008

Tehran — The managing-director of the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) said: We are trying to secure the release the crew of the vessel that was hijacked in Somali coast.

Mohammad Hussein Dajmar confirmed international news reports and said: Somali pirates hijacked an Iranian ship carrying 40,000 tons of iron ore.

He said that there were more than 20 sailors on the ship and added: An armed group hijacked the Iranian ship together with a number of non-Iranian ships.

Talking about the destination and departure port of the ship, the managing-director of the IRISL said: The abovementioned ship was carrying 40,000 tons of iron ore from China to the Netherlands when it was hijacked off the Somali coast.

Asked if the pirates have raised any demand for releasing the sailors, he said: No demands have been made in this regard. We have made some efforts through diplomatic means and the (Iranian) foreign ministry.

Asked if the Somali government has taken any action to secure the release of the Iranian sailors, Dajmar said: Somalia has no particular government to pursue the case, but we are trying to secure the release of the sailors through diplomatic means.

The IRISL official said that the Iranian sailors are safe and sound.

He added: There are some insecure places around the world, such as the Somali coast.

Dajmar said that the ship and sailor are insured and added: At the moment, the most important issue is the safety of the Iranian sailors and we are taking the necessary steps in this regard.

Tagged: Business, Corruption, East Africa, Environment, External Relations, Middle East and Africa, Oceans, Somalia, Transport

Copyright © 2008 Shabelle Media Network. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 130 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.

Comments 1 to 1 of 1 Post a comment

  • gleeds@DTCC.edu
    Mar 22 2010, 14:50
    Report Abuse

    The Somailian criminals that were responsible for the seizure of this ship were reported to have died of radiation poisoning after a brief exposure to the locked containers of "ore". The mafia families worldwide that get involved with toxic waste disposal and nuclear reproccessing of spent fuel for sale on the open market,for any terrorist group to purchase,have decided to commit suicide. This has always been a use of deadly force question for any secirity detail. Why have these parisites been allowed to exist by those with authority abd responsibilty upon this earth is beyond me. Will it take a mushroom cloud ove Paris, or another chemical attack in Amman, Jordan, to authorize the use any means to blot this scourge out