Officials from the Red Sea Navigation Company say they have contacted Somali mediators to negotiate the release the crew of the MV Suez, a vessel that was hijacked a few days ago in the Gulf of Aden. The Red Sea Navigation Company is the owner of the MV Suez, whose crew includes 11 Egyptian sailors. The same source said that a US executive order freezing the assets of Somali militias which could make it illegal for ship owners to pay ransoms to pirates has further exacerbated the problem. He said the company was able to pay US$600,000 to release another hijacked ship two years ago. Egyptian members of the crew contacted Mohamed Sobhi, a member of the company's board of directors, saying they were in good condition but still under threat from the pirates, he added. The pirates have so far not determined the amount of ransom or how it should be paid. Mohamed Fathi, one of the owners of the hijacked ship, said military intervention may be required to prevent piracy. He called for putting pressure on Somali tribes to end piracy with the help of the Somali government. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
