Somalia — Somali businessmen have Monday denied that the cargo ship kidnapped by the Somali pirates was carring weapons to Horn of Africa nation, officials told Shabelle radio on Tuesday

Abdirisaq Abduqadir, an agent of the abducted cargo ship said in aninterview with Shabelle radio that the ship was named Al Mizan pointing out that the Somali pirates kidnaped the vessel near Hobyo town in Mudug region in central Somalia.

He added the cargo ship was belonged by Banama. But it was carring goods to Somali businessmen adding that it had sailed from the United Arab Emarates spcecially UJman port.

He stated that they had contacted to the pirates to discuss about it,but Somali pirates didn't demand any ransom.

The official disproved hashly to reports saying that the ship was loading weapons to Somalia reiteterting that it was commercial ship.

Mr. Abdirisak said that 18 crew members 15 of them from India and 2 from Pakistan including Somali citizen were on board the cargo ship callign the Somali pirates to release it soon.

The hijecking against the merchant ship comes as a Brtish couple are still in the hands of Somali pirtes in the country.