Somali pirates holding a Saudi supertanker after the largest seizure in maritime history are asking for a $US15 million ($24 million) ransom, an Islamist leader said on Monday, citing associates of the hijackers.
The pirates had originally been quoted as wanting $US25 million to release the Sirius Star, which has $US100 million ($160 million) of oil and 25 crew on board.
But Islamist spokesman Abdirahim Isse Adow, whose men are in the Haradheere area where the ship is being held offshore, said that had been reduced.
"Middlemen have given a $[US]15 million ransom figure for the Saudi ship. That is the issue now," Mr Adow said.
