afrol News, 9 September - Head of Somali opposition group Alliance for Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) has today urged the world to help fight rampant hijackings off country's coast, which have turned Somali waters into the most dangerous in world.

Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, has warned that piracy in the lawless country had become "more organised and dangerous," hence is threatening to disrupt a key commercial maritime lane.

"Those who carry out this filthy kidnapping of ships are on ground and do not live in sea. They must be brought to book and pirates must be eliminated," Mr Ahmed told Media.

According to International Maritime Bureau (IMB), more than 24 known attacks were reported in area between April and June this year.

Maritime experts report that many other attacks go unreported along Somalia's 3,700 kilometres of largely unpatrolled coastline infested by pirates, who operate high-powered speedboats and carry heavy machine guns and rocket launchers.

"These nasty elements are driven by greed and international community must help Somalia overcome this mayhem," Mr Ahmed said.

Mr Ahmed was head of Islamic courts union, which nearly stamped out piracy when it seized much of country from warlords in second half of 2006, until movement was ousted by Ethiopian forces early last year, on claims it was linked to Al Qaeda.

Somali transitional government, which took over, has failed to bring under control rising surge of piracy, which poses a threat in Gulf of Aden, a key commercial shipping lane.

Earlier in August, head of International chamber of commerce's piracy reporting centre Noel Chong, said there was no easy way out of problem, saying piracy was easy way for sea bandits and warlords to make money.

Pirates, who are currently holding more than seven ships and their crew hostage off coast of northern Somalia, are demanding millions of dollars in ransom before releasing victims.

IMB, which monitors shipping crime, said in April that 49 pirate attacks on ships were reported in first three months of 2008, compared with 41, of same period last year.

Somalia plunged into a civil war after the 1991 ouster of president Mohamed Siad Barre, setting off a deadly power struggle that has defied numerous attempts to restore a functional government.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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