At least six people have been killed during intense fighting between rival Somali pirates arguing over a record ransom paid for an oil-laden Greek supertanker, elders and pirates said yesterday.
Three pirates and a civilian were killed in the latest bout of fighting that erupted in the town of Harardhere late on Monday, elders and pirates said by telephone.
Tension has been high in the central Somali pirate lair ever since an estimated US$7 million were dropped by a small plane on Sunday for the release of the VLCC Maran Centaurus, a Greek-flagged supertanker 333m long and carrying 2 million barrels of crude oil.
“The situation is calm this morning but there is still tension between the pirates. Three of them, including a senior pirate leader, were killed so far and three others were injured,” local elder Moalim Abdalla Hasan said.
“We are trying to mediate between them because they are disturbing our peace. A civilian was killed in the crossfire and the residents are very concerned about this feud,” he said.
Hasan Nile, a local grocer who could not open his shop on Tuesday because of the security situation in Harardhere, said the pirate vendetta involved vehicles and heavy weapons.
“I think there will not be trust between them any more since they killed each other. Three pirates have died already since yesterday and if there’s no swift mediation, more will die, including civilians,” Nile said.
Harardhere resident Husein Warsame said late on Monday that the fighting had brought life to a standstill.
“There is no movement so far, the pirates are exchanging heavy machinegun fire inside the town and there are dead bodies in the streets,” he said.
Other sources in Harardhere said two pirates died when a dispute flared on Sunday, immediately after the Maran Centaurus’ ransom was delivered, bringing to six the number of people killed over the disputed ransom.
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