Navy SEALS spring hostages

Nine Somali pirates are dead following an intense fire fight with US commandoes who led a daring operation to rescue two foreign aid workers.

“The United States will not tolerate the abduction of our people, and will spare no effort to secure the safety of our citizens and to bring their captors to justice,” said US president Barack Obama in a statement released by the White House.

The hostages were working for a demining unit of the Danish Refugee Council on 25 October when they were kidnapped by two truckloads of gunman as they traveled to an airport in Galkayo, which is located around 100 kilometers southwest of Higlale.

Port agency GAC issued a maritime alert early Wednesday morning amid fears that pirates may retaliate against captive seafarers and other hostages in Somalia in response to the deadly encounter with US forces.

“Pirates and criminals holding crew members and other aid workers and tourists in the country are likely to respond with increased vigilance, and may threaten increased violence towards hostages to deter future military rescue attempts,” it warned.

GAC says the rescue follows reports that a captain of a Taiwanese fishing vessel had his arm amputated by captors in response to the continued refusal of a ransom payment by the vessel's owners.

“The incident demonstrates that pirates will follow through on threats of increased violence towards hostages,” the agency added.

According to US media outlets the element of surprise may have contributed to the success of Tuesday’s mission as previous US military operations involving Somali pirates have unfolded at sea, not on land.

While sources in Washington have confirmed reports that the commandoes captured "several" marauders during the raid, the exact number remains unclear though some say as many as six were taken.

It is believed that Seal Team Six, the elite unit of the US Navy that killed Osama bin Laden at his hideout in Pakistan last year, was involved in Tuesday's rescue mission, which president Obama authorised on Monday.

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