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Saturday, April 11, 2009

Pirates Fire on Navy in ongoing Hostage Situation

(CBS/AP) Pirates opened fired as a small U.S. Navy team approached the enclosed lifeboat on which an American was being held hostage in waters off the coast of Somalia, CBS News correspondent Kimberly Dozer reports.

A Defense Department official told CBS News that the Navy team was in a rubber craft headed toward the lifeboat holding the kidnapped captain of the Maersk Alabama when Somali pirates fired at or in the general direction of the Navy boat.

The U.S. official would not confirm whether they traded fire.

He told Dozier that the Navy craft did not retreat, noting, “It’s an ongoing operation. Things change on the ground. Last update we had was a while ago.”

The official did confirm that from this operation they have proof that Captain Richard Phillips is still safe.

Two Navy warships are in the vicinity of the lifeboat, with a third on the way, and they are working to not let the pirates reach shore. - CBS News Story

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