As Russia and France announced they would send more warships to combat piracy in the waters around Somalia, Arab Red Sea states were holding an emergency meeting in Cairo to discuss the threat, with Egypt saying all options were on the table to deal with the growing crisis. Senior officials from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Yemen met for the talks amid growing international frustration over a situation described by the International Maritime Bureau as "out of control."
The hijackers are demanding $25 million in ransom for the largest ship yet taken and its cargo of $100 million of oil, one of the pirates told AFP on Thursday. They have set a 10-day deadline. With three more ships captured since the Sirius Star was taken, foreign ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said Egypt would consider all possibilities in dealing with the crisis.
"The Egyptian national security establishment works intensively on all options, examines what measures could be taken in this regard, and decides whether a diplomatic and political solution will be preferred."
"All options are open," Egypt's official MENA news agency quoted him as saying.