Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)
Abdinasir Moh-Guled
12 October 2008
Mogadishu — Fighting erupted Sunday between a group of pirates holding Somali ship and soldiers loyal to Somalia's semiautonomous state of Puntland between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, according to eyewitnesses.
One resident, who refused to identify himself, told Shabelle that the pirates are still in control of the ship and its member crew.
According to reports from Puntland, Saturday's clashes erupted after a soldiers led by a senior Puntland police commanders attacked pirates but they failed to seize the ship from the pirates.
One soldier and one pirate were killed while two others were injured in the fighting.
Attempts to reach Puntland police officials by telephone failed.
In recent weeks, some Puntland soldiers have arrived in Eyl to join forces with pirates, who have collected millions of dollars in ransom payments.
Puntland President Adde Muse recently told soldiers that the government cannot pay their salaries, a development insiders say has helped fuel the number of soldiers joining piracy.
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