By Aweys Osman Yusuf

Mogadishu, January 26, 2007 - The government administration in Mudug provincial town of Haradhere, central Somalia, has voiced concerns that the Somali pirates have begun massing at the town. The pirates were reportedly intending to launch hijacking the ships crossing Somalia coasts.

Abdisalna Khalif, the government management for Mudug region, has told Shabelle by the phone that groups of heavily armed pirates have lately been gathering at Hardhere town, which was notorious for piracy in the past.

Islamists that were in control in the area for the past six months eradicated the pirating practice in the area before they were forcefully driven out by the Ethiopian and Somali government troops.

Khalif rebuffed that residents in Haradhere were supportive of the pirates. "The pirates inflict harm to the civilian population, so there is no way residents can back the pirates", he said.

Somalia biggest pirate stronghold was Haradhere, a coastal town in central Somalia, where Islamists have flushed out all pirates in the area.

Khalif says the government should send troops to crush down the pirates.

Source: SMN

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