Somalia's foreign minister has told The Associated Press that pirates are “playing with fire” and “cannot win” against American forces in a cargo ship hostage standoff as a US navy destroyer arrived off the coast of Somalia to pressure the release. Mohamed Omaar said Thursday “there is no way” the pirates can win. The pirates took Capt. Richard Phillips as a hostage as they escaped the Maersk Alabama into a lifeboat Wednesdaym which officials say ran out of fuel off he coast. According to a Bloomberg report the pirates are planning to send reinforcements in two groups to the kidnappers, one of which is already at sea. A US official said the Navy is in talks with the pirates to find a peaceful solution although it was unclear who was speaking on behalf of the Navy. Another official said earlier Thursday that the commanding officer of the destroyer USS Bainbridge had tried to contact them. “Our main concern remains the safe return of the captain and our latest communications with the ship indicate that he is unharmed,” said B.J. Talley, spokesman for the Danish-owned freighter's operator, Maersk Line Ltd. The US warship Bainbridge arrived on the scene before dawn on Thursday, the company added. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it had been called in to assist, and its negotiators were “fully engaged.” Pirates say they are undeterred by the foreign flotilla and will simply move operations away from the patrols.
