On the other hand, you omitted to mention the slightly more cheerful news that the jail sentence was reduced to 2 months, which Ibrahim Eissa has said he will complete.

Meanwhile, still on the question of freedom of speech, an outsider in the race for most ludicrous spokesperson ever, Sugule Ali , has taken up the challenge.

Ali is speaking on behalf of the Somali pirates who hijacked a Ukrainian freighter carrying Kenyan military weapons, and are currently surrounded by a number of rather cross warships from a number of nations.

‘”It is true we are surrounded by three foreign military vessels and there are some others we can see (in the) distance,” he said.

“We are not afraid of their presence, that will not make us to abandon the ship or to refrain from asking (for) the money,”

The money is $20 million, and Ali objects to this being described as ransom:

‘”We are not pirates, we are just protecting our natural marine resources. Some countries want to make our waters a dumping site for the industry of the West. We are supported by the local community.”

Perhaps he’s hoping to follow in Obama’s footsteps…

http://malaysia.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080928/twl-somalia-unrest-piracy-shipping-4bdc673.html