The pirates will start negotiations with a demand for an outrageously high amount of money. If you take a look at the MV Faina [a hijacked Ukrainian ship carrying 33 Soviet-made tanks], the pirates originally demanded $35 million. That was at the end of September, and they’re now down to $8 million, which is still quite a hefty amount for such a ship—the usual ransom amount is $2 million. For the Sirius Star I think they will try to get as much out of it as possible. However, the ship is quite dangerous for them. It’s far too big. Navigational errors could happen, and you could have a disastrous oil spill damaging the whole coast of Somalia with the 2 million barrels aboard. I’m not really sure that the pirates were well advised to attack such a huge ship.

The Pentagon spokesman says senior U.S. officials are looking for better ways to address the piracy off the east coast of Africa. But he says the problem needs a broader approach, perhaps involving military tactics but also government policies, international agreements and action by shipping companies. VOA’s Catherine Cannon reports from the Pentagon.

The battle with pirates operating off the coast of Somalia grew yesterday when raiders seized two more ships but lost one of their own in an uneven firefight with the Indian Navy. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) described the situation yesterday as “out of control”.

The surge in hijackings came as Saudi Arabia confirmed that a ransom demand had been made for the freeing of the Sirius Star supertanker, seized at the weekend with her crew of 25 and a cargo of oil worth $100 million (£65 million).

Nairobi, 19 November 2008 – Today, United States Ambassador to Kenya Michael E. Ranneberger will visit Dadaab Refugee Camp to express appreciation for Kenya’s continued role in providing support to asylum seekers fleeing Somalia, and to review the current conditions in the camp.  Ambassador Ranneberger is concerned by reports that overcrowded conditions, increasing numbers of refugees, and inadequate land resources could lead to a humanitarian crisis in the camp. More on U.S. Ambassador Ranneberger Visits Dadaab Refugee Camp

ADDIS ABABA,  (IRIN) – At least 52,000 people have abandoned their homes in Ethiopia’s Somali region after the Wade Shabelle and Genale rivers burst their banks following heavy rains. More on ETHIOPIA: Thousands displaced by floods in Somali region

JOHANNESBURG, Nov 18 (IPS) - How can governance be improved to give development a chance in Africa? Political theorist Patrick Chabal believes a role has to be found for traditional methods of accountability to be used alongside formal systems recognised in the West. More on Governance Still Failing Africa

Somalia’s collapse into anarchy almost two decades ago created a uniquely explosive combination

At a stroke, the Horn of Africa acquired a failed state with 2,000 miles of coastline skirting one of the world’s great trade routes. More on Somalia: Analysis of a failed state

ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Ethiopia said on Tuesday it was not prepared to continue propping up Somalia’s interim government “indefinitely” and urged leaders there to embrace a peace process to stop 17 years of conflict. More on Woyanne won’t protect the TFG

ATHENS, Greece – Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister says the hijacking of a Saudi oil supertanker by Somali pirates is “an outrageous act.” More on Saudi FM: oil supertanker hijacking ‘outrageous’