Pirates have killed the Syrian captain of the ship MV Barwago off the coast of the Somali capital Mogadishu. The pirates opened fire in an unsuccessful attempt to seize the ship, which was carrying cargo from Dubai to the Somali capital.

Somali police say they were called in and one police officer was injured in an exchange of fire with the pirates. The port of Mogadishu is the main transit point for supplying the African Union peacekeeing force in Somalia and for shipping food to the local population. Around half of the Somali population depends on relief supplies.

Aerial view of port of Mogadishu
Photo by Wikimedia Commons