Pirates' lifeboat drifts toward shore

A lifeboat containing pirates and their American hostage is drifting towards the Somali coastline, with the US navy following.

MOGADISHU // A lifeboat used by Somali pirates holding a US merchant marine captain captive drifted toward Somalia's lawless coast today, with US warships tracking it to keep the pirates from escaping to shore. The lifeboat that was out of fuel had drifted to within 20 miles of the Somali coast by late yesterday, and US military officials said they feared if it reached the shore, the pirates might try to escape with their hostage on land.

The US-flagged Maersk Alabama container ship from which Capt Richard Phillips was taken last week arrived safely in the Kenyan port of Mombasa yesterday, as a Somali mediator headed to sea to try to secure his release. The ship was attacked by gunmen far out in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday but its 20 American crew apparently fought off the hijackers and regained control of the ship. Relatives said Capt Phillips volunteered to join the pirates in their lifeboat in exchange for the safety of his ship and its crew. The four pirates holding him want US$2 million (Dh7.3m) ransom for him and a guarantee of safe passage.

Three US warships including the destroyer USS Bainbridge were in the area around the lifeboat. Military officials said the pirates fired on a small US craft that approached them from the Bainbridge yesterday. No one was hurt by the volley and the craft withdrew. It was still not clear how the crew retook control of their vessel, which was carrying thousands of tons of food aid for Somalia, Uganda and Kenya.

Somali elders sent a mediator yesterday in hopes of resolving the standoff between the US Navy and the pirates holding Capt Phillips, a 53-year-old Vermont father of two. The mediator took to sea in a boat but it was unclear how he planned to reach the pirates. The gang holding Capt Phillips remained defiant. "We will defend ourselves if attacked," one told Reuters by satellite phone. * Reuters