Somali fishermen say they are harassed by US marines in the

[Hiiraan boy]

Mogadishu 27, Feb.07 ( Sh.M.Network) -- Somali fishermen in Lower Shabelle province, southern Somalia, have voiced concerns about harassments inflicted on them by US warships on the coasts of Somalia.

Abdirahman Osman, one of the fishermen, told Shabelle that he and some of his colleagues were detained by US marines on the southern coast of Somalia. “While we were fishing somewhere off the coast of Merca, a town about 100 km south of Mogadishu, a huge US warship spotted us. It closed in and were ordered to follow the ship, covering about 500 km deep inside the sea,” he said.

Osman said the Americans had a Somali translator who asked them plenty of questions.

“They were asking us: where are the terrorists? Are you fishermen or pirates? Then they let us go,” he said.

The fisherman complained that they could not reach the shore by the boat as it lost all fuel during the long journey.
The incident happened as UN-chartered vessel was hijacked off the coast of Alula settlement, Northeast Somalia.

On board the vessel are 12 crew members, six Sri Lankans, including the captain, and six Kenyans. The ship had just delivered 1,800 metric tonnes of WFP food aid and FAO equipment in Berbera and in Bossaso and was sailing empty back to Mombasa. The ship is now reported to be anchored off Bargal, in Somali waters.

WFP is currently in close contact with Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG), the Puntland authorities, and with the vessel's agents, to obtain the most accurate information and to ensure the earliest release of the vessel and crew.

[eyes-only]

typical f*ing Americans... Now they're targeting fishermen? f*ing morons

[Grant]

"Osman said the Americans had a Somali translator who asked them plenty of questions.

“They were asking us: where are the terrorists? Are you fishermen or pirates? Then they let us go,” he said.

The incident happened as UN-chartered vessel was hijacked off the coast of Alula settlement, Northeast Somalia."