News Service from House Harris

AFR: Somali pirates build up defences after making ransom demand<

MOGADISHU, Nov 21 AFP - Somali pirates have built up their defences around a captured Saudi Arabian super-tanker after demanding aUS25 million ($A41million) ransom.

As foreign navies sent warships to Somalia's dangerous waters and shipping companies sought alternative routes, extra clan militia and other fighters were brought in at the pirate lair of Harardhere, residents said on Friday.

"Some of them are inside the town and others are taking shelter in a nearbyvillage and can be called if need be," said local resident Mohamed Awale.

Local militia and hardline Shebab fighters also arrived in Harardhere in what some residents said was a move to position themselves for a share of anyransom paid.

"There are two armed vehicles belonging to al Shebab. They have reached thetown of Harardhere but there are no intentions of attacking the ship from here," a Harardhere Islamist official said by phone.

The militiamen want a share from the pirates if the ransom is paid, said Ahmed Abdullahi, a local elder. "They believe this ship is huge and the ownerwill pay a lot of money."

The Sirius Star, the biggest ship ever hijacked, and itsUS100 million ($A164 million) load of oil was seized last Saturday and taken to Harardhere, 300km north of lawless Somalia's capital Mogadishu.

The pirates on Thursday gave the owners 10 days to pay aUS25 million ($A41 million) ransom.

Speaking from the tanker, a pirate who identified himself as Mohamed Said threatened "disastrous" consequences should Vela International, shipping armof the Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco, fail to comply.

"The Saudis have 10 days to comply, otherwise we will take action that could be disastrous," he said.

He did not specify the threatened action but the 330-metre-long tanker is carrying two million barrels of crude oil.

Environmental groups have warned of a huge catastrophe if oil from the supertanker was released.

Some experts have said the MV Faina, a Ukrainian ship seized by the same pirates in September with a cargo of tanks and other weaponry, was booby-trapped by the hijackers.

With close to 100 attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean this year, the pirates now pose a growing threat to international trade.

Two speedboats with pirates armed with Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-launchers seized the Saudi tanker in 16 minutes on Saturday, according to a military report.

The United States said it would seek support at the United Nations for a resolution to tighten international measures against Somali pirates.

AFP rs =0A