A U.S. Navy Captain Who Is Being Held Hostage By Somali Pirates Made A Failed Attempt To Escape!

The Somali pirates who kidnapped Capt. Richard Phillips from a U.S Navy ship have demanded $2 million dollars in ransom for his safe return.They say they will kill him if the U.S. attacks the four pirates holding Capt. Phillips hostage.And that has already happened to a French hostage.Here's more from The Guardian:

"A French military operation to free a yacht hijacked by Somali pirates backfired yesterday when one of the hostages was killed, highlighting the perils facing US forces trying to free an American seaman being held captive in a parallel pirate standoff.

Despite the rescue of his four fellow hostages, including his three-year-old son, Florent Lemaçon was shot dead on board the Tanit during the raid by elite French forces. Two pirates also died, and three others were taken prisoner, said the French defence minister, Herve Morin."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here.

Capt. Philips tried to make an escape,but his efforts failed.He's lucky that he didn't wind up dead.But,this guy is prepared to put his life on the line.Apparently,he did a very heroic thing.He offered himself as a hostage instead of letting the pirates take one of his crewman!Here's more on that from The AP:

"The head of Somalia's near-powerless transitional government, Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke, appealed to leaders in piracy hubs to work for Phillips' release. The government "wants to see this piracy problem come to an end in a peaceful manner," he said in a statement.

President Barack Obama, who is getting regular updates on the standoff, made no public comment about it Friday for a third day.

Phillips, 53, thwarted the takeover of the 17,000-ton Alabama by telling his crew of about 20 to lock themselves in a room, the crew told stateside relatives.The crew later overpowered some of the pirates but Phillips surrendered himself to the bandits to safeguard his men, and the Somalis fled with him to the lifeboat, the relatives said.

Capt. James Staples, a classmate of Phillips at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, said he was not surprised by the escape attempt.

"That just shows me that Richie's still ... strong, he's thinking, he's alert," Staples said. "He's going to take every opportunity he can to, to make the situation a lot better for himself and probably get home as quick as he can."(END OF EXCERPT)Read the rest here.

I will pray for Capt. Phillips safe return.