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Crisis meeting over Somali piracy Crisis meeting over Somali piracy
(20 minutes later)
A spate of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has prompted emergency talks between nations bordering the Red Sea to deal with the problem.A spate of pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia has prompted emergency talks between nations bordering the Red Sea to deal with the problem.
Officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and a member of Somalia's government attended a private meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.Officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Yemen and a member of Somalia's government attended a private meeting in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
It came amid a report that pirates who hijacked a Saudi oil tanker on Saturday are demanding a $25m (£17m) ransom.It came amid a report that pirates who hijacked a Saudi oil tanker on Saturday are demanding a $25m (£17m) ransom.
However, the Sirius Star's owners have cast doubt on that figure.However, the Sirius Star's owners have cast doubt on that figure.
The tanker, the biggest ever hijacked by the pirates, is carrying a cargo of 2m barrels - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - worth more than $100m.The tanker, the biggest ever hijacked by the pirates, is carrying a cargo of 2m barrels - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - worth more than $100m.
It is now anchored off the Somali coast with around 25 crew members being held as hostages.It is now anchored off the Somali coast with around 25 crew members being held as hostages.
Payments for hostage-taking are only an encouragement to further hostage-taking UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband India praised for sinking piratesPayments for hostage-taking are only an encouragement to further hostage-taking UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband India praised for sinking pirates
A pirate on board the vessel calling himself Mohamed Said was quoted by news agency AFP as saying that the Saudi owners, Vela International, had been set a 10-day deadline to hand over a $25m ransom.A pirate on board the vessel calling himself Mohamed Said was quoted by news agency AFP as saying that the Saudi owners, Vela International, had been set a 10-day deadline to hand over a $25m ransom.
BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner says the owners are effectively denying that figure, while the industry is expecting the demand to be higher.BBC Security correspondent Frank Gardner says the owners are effectively denying that figure, while the industry is expecting the demand to be higher.
A spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry, Hossam Zaki, was quoted by Egypt's official Mena news agency as saying that "all options are open" in trying to solve the crisis.A spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry, Hossam Zaki, was quoted by Egypt's official Mena news agency as saying that "all options are open" in trying to solve the crisis.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the Commission of the African Union, Jean Ping, called for the UN to send peacekeepers to Somalia.Meanwhile, the chairman of the Commission of the African Union, Jean Ping, called for the UN to send peacekeepers to Somalia.
He said the rise in piracy was "a clear indication of the further deterioration of the situation with far-reaching consequences for this country, the region and... international community".He said the rise in piracy was "a clear indication of the further deterioration of the situation with far-reaching consequences for this country, the region and... international community".
'Fundamental problem''Fundamental problem'
The 25 captive crew on the Sirius Star include 19 Filipinos, two British citizens, two Poles, one Croatian, and one Saudi national.The 25 captive crew on the Sirius Star include 19 Filipinos, two British citizens, two Poles, one Croatian, and one Saudi national.
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he could not comment on negotiations.UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he could not comment on negotiations.
Pirates 'working with Islamists'IMB piracy map The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sitesPirates 'working with Islamists'IMB piracy map The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
However, he did say: "There is a strong view of the British government, and actually the international community, that payments for hostage-taking are only an encouragement to further hostage-taking and we will be approaching this issue in a very delicate way, in a way that puts the security and safety of the hostages to the fore."However, he did say: "There is a strong view of the British government, and actually the international community, that payments for hostage-taking are only an encouragement to further hostage-taking and we will be approaching this issue in a very delicate way, in a way that puts the security and safety of the hostages to the fore."
With Britain's Royal Navy co-ordinating the European response to the incident, Mr Miliband said: "There is a fundamental problem in the Gulf of Aden. That is why the deployment of the European force is the right thing to do."With Britain's Royal Navy co-ordinating the European response to the incident, Mr Miliband said: "There is a fundamental problem in the Gulf of Aden. That is why the deployment of the European force is the right thing to do."
The pirates who seized the tanker on Saturday are a sophisticated group with contacts in Dubai and neighbouring countries, says BBC Somali Service editor Yusuf Garaad.The pirates who seized the tanker on Saturday are a sophisticated group with contacts in Dubai and neighbouring countries, says BBC Somali Service editor Yusuf Garaad.
Much of their ransom money from previous hijackings has been used to buy new boats and weapons as well as develop a network across the Horn of Africa, he adds.Much of their ransom money from previous hijackings has been used to buy new boats and weapons as well as develop a network across the Horn of Africa, he adds.
Russia has announced it is to send more warships to the region to counter the pirates.Russia has announced it is to send more warships to the region to counter the pirates.
Earlier this month, one of its frigates, the Neustrashimy, scared away pirates who were trying to hijack ships in the Gulf of Aden.Earlier this month, one of its frigates, the Neustrashimy, scared away pirates who were trying to hijack ships in the Gulf of Aden.
"After the Neustrashimy, ships from other fleets of the Russian navy will head to the region," Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said."After the Neustrashimy, ships from other fleets of the Russian navy will head to the region," Admiral Vladimir Vysotsky said.
On Tuesday, a cargo ship and a fishing vessel became the latest to join more than 90 vessels attacked by the pirates since January.On Tuesday, a cargo ship and a fishing vessel became the latest to join more than 90 vessels attacked by the pirates since January.
Shipping concernsShipping concerns
In a rare victory against the organised gangs, the Indian navy said it had sunk a suspected pirate "mother ship" in the Gulf of Aden, several hundred kilometres north of the location where the hijackers boarded the Sirius Star. In a rare victory against the organised gangs, the Indian navy said it had sunk a suspected pirate "mother ship" after it failed to stop for an inspection in the Gulf of Aden, several hundred kilometres north of the location where the hijackers boarded the Sirius Star.
INS Tabar attacked the vessel on Tuesday after it failed to stop for an inspection and opened fire, the Indian navy statement said. Shipping companies are now weighing up the risks of using the short-cut route to and from Europe via the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.
Shipping companies are now said to be weighing up the risks of using the short-cut route to and from Europe via the Gulf of Aden and the Suez Canal.
However, travelling around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope would add several weeks to average journey times and substantially increase the cost of goods for consumers.However, travelling around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope would add several weeks to average journey times and substantially increase the cost of goods for consumers.
Maersk, one of the world's biggest shipping firms, announced on Thursday that some of its fleet, mainly tankers, would no longer use the Gulf of Aden.Maersk, one of the world's biggest shipping firms, announced on Thursday that some of its fleet, mainly tankers, would no longer use the Gulf of Aden.
But it added that if there were enough naval escorts, it would resume sending vessels through the gulf. Convoy confusion
But the company added that if there were enough naval escorts, it would resume sending vessels through the gulf.
BBC Africa editor Martin Plaut says there is currently no formal system of convoys in the area.
The Indian and Russian ships are working independently, while Nato and the US Navy are working together, advising merchant ships that they are in the area and can protect them.
Other warships are escorting World Food Programme ships carrying aid destined for Somalia, and merchant ships can travel with them as long as they do not slow them down.
A naval taskforce is due to be sent by the European Union in December.