NO COMMENT ON U.S. MILITARY DEPLOYMENT ALONG SOMALIAN COASTLINE: MOFA
ROC Central News Agency
2006-01-17 22:32:00
Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Ministry (MOFA) Tuesday declined to comment on reports saying U.S. warships have besieged Somalia to force the unconditional release of 11 vessels held for ransom by the African country's rebel militia.
Three of the kidnapped vessels are Taiwanese fishing boats -- the Kaohsiung-based "Chungyi No. 218," the Hsiaoliuchiu-based "Hsinlienfa No. 36" and the "Chengchingfeng." The Taiwanese vessels lost contact when they entered a Somalian fishing port Aug. 16 for refueling and maintenance.
MOFA spokesman Michel Lu said the ministry has learned of many rumors surrounding the issue, but so far it has been difficult to distinguish which accounts were true.
Efforts will continue in the rescue of all crew members aboard the boats, including three Taiwanese skippers as well as sailors and fishery workers from China, Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines, Lu said, stressing that the MOFA has been working toward the release of these people through many channels and types of assistance from the relevant countries.
Right now, all of the crewmen and ships are safe and in no danger, and negotiations have entered the final stages, the senior foreign affairs official noted.
The ministry has to withold details about the negotiations to protect the kidnapping victims, Lu added.
(By Elizabeth Hsu)
ENDITEM/diG
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
