Salem-News.com Somalia articles Page 2

Counter Piracy Update

Status of seized vessels and crews in Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. U.S.A.: Nothing to celebrate this 4th of July.

(NAIROBI, Kenya Ecoterra) - Today, at least 34 larger plus 17 smaller foreign vessels and one stranded barge are kept in Somali hands against the will of their owners

At least 573 hostages or captives - including a South-African yachting couple as well as a Danish yacht-family with three children and two friends suffer to be released.

Update on Counter-Piracy Operations

Status of seized vessels and crews in Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

(NAIROBI, Kenya Ecoterra) - ECOTERRA Intl. and ECOP-marine serve concerning the counter-piracy issues as advocacy groups in their capacity as human rights, marine and maritime monitors as well as in co-operation with numerous other organizations, groups and individuals as information clearing-house.

In difficult cases we have successfully served as mediators.

Unnecessary Tragic End of Yacht Voyage in Somalia

U.S.American Yacht Hostages Confirmed Dead - 4 Americans and 4 Somalis killed.

(NAIROBI, Kenya ECOTERRA) - According to U.S. officials, quoted first by selected media, the four U.S. American hostages on SY QUEST are confirmed dead.

Rumours in Somalia had spoken already earlier that something tragic had happened. A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi said all relevant U.S. government agencies were monitoring the situation.

Update on Pirate Seized Vessels and Crews

Includes information from Somalia, Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

(NAIROBI, Kenya ECOTERRA) - Today, 17 February 2011, 21h00 UTC, at least 49 foreign vessels plus two barges are kept in Somali hands against the will of their owners, while at least 815 hostages or captives - including a South-African yachting couple - suffer to be released.

But even EU NAVFOR, who mostly only counts high-value, often British insured vessels, admitted now that dozens of vessels were sea-jacked despite their multi-million Euro efforts to protect shipping.

German / US-Tanker to be Released by Somali Pirates

The fate of the crew of MT Marida Margeuerite still hangs in the balance.

(NAIROBI, Kenya ECOTERRA) - MT Marida Margeuerite ITE *was seized on the 8th day of this year. The vessel and crew were captured around 120 nm south of the Omani port of Salalah in the protected shipping corridor.

The German owner-managed, US-owner-registered chemical tanker of 13.273 dwt Marida Margeuerite (IMO 9445655) has a crew of 22 seamen, including 19 Indians, two Bangladeshi and one Ukrainian.'

Somalia Pirate Update

Status of Captured Vessels and Crews in Somalia, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.

(NAIROBI, Kenya ECOTERRA Intl.) - No matter what the navies say: Today, 16. December 2010, at least 36 foreign vessels plus one barge are kept in Somali hands against the will of their owners.

At the same time, at least 659 hostages or captives - including a South-African yachting couple - suffer to be released.

Bulker Sea-Jacked by Somali Sea-Shifta

he bulk carrier MV Renuar is at present commandeered to the Somali coast...

(NAIROBI, Kenya ECOTERRA Intl.) - A cargo vessel was captured on 11 December 2010, approximately 360nm SW of Minicoy Island, 1,200nm from Mogadishu in Somalia and 550nm off the Indian coast. Naval reporting centres finally confirmed our reports on Sunday.

The Panama-flagged MV Renuar is a bulk cargo vessel with a dead-weight of 70,156 tonnes and was en route to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates from Port Louis in Mauritius when it was captured on Saturday.

Oregon Veterans for Peace Chapters Condemn Corvallis Islamic Center Arson Attack

“Hate in response to hate does not foster the healing process.” - Bart Bolger, president of the Corvallis Veterans For Peace chapter

(CORVALLIS) - All five Oregon chapters of Veterans For Peace condemn the arson fire attack on the Salman Al-Farisi Islamic Center in Corvallis, Oregon early Sunday morning.

This attack, an apparent retaliation for the alleged plot by a 19-year-old student, must be investigated as a hate crime.

Feds Plant Inert Bomb in Portland Before Arresting Muslim Man

Media Circus: police could have arrested the man sooner; they took part in his suspected terrorist act.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - An alleged plot to detonate a bomb at the Pioneer Square Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony in Portland Friday was foiled by FBI agents and Portland Police officers.

A close examination of the facts raises concerns that the story is simply conditioning to prepare Americans for more military conflict in the Middle east.

Situation Critical for Thousands Displaced Near Mogadishu

The fighting has intensified in recent days, claiming a high number of casualties among Mogadishu's residents.

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - The outbreak of violence in and around the Somali capital, Mogadishu has caused hundreds of thousands of displaced people living in increasingly harsh conditions.

Since 2007 the fighting has caused large numbers of people to flee, setting up makeshift camps between Mogadishu and Afgoye. With each new outbreak of violence more and more people are forced to leave their homes.