Cuba libera a uno de los siete presos políticos que rechazan el exilio

Cuba liberará a uno de los siete presos políticos que rechazan el exilio y permanecen en prisión pese a un acuerdo del año pasado entre el presidente Raúl Castro y la Iglesia Católica, dijo el sábado el Arzobispado de La Habana.

La Iglesia dijo en una breve nota que el Gobierno de la isla ha liberado a Iván Hernandez Carrillo, condenado en el 2003 a 25 años de cárcel.

Hernández es parte del grupo de 52 disidentes reclamados por Amnistía Internacional. Cuba comenzó a liberar gradualmente desde julio a decenas de opositores a condición de que se marcharan al exilio.

"En continuidad con el proceso de liberación de prisioneros, se informa que se ha dispuesto la excarcelación de: Ivan Hernández Carrillo", dijo el Arzobispado de La Habana en un comunicado.

Hernández, es parte del grupo de siete disidentes que se niegan a salir del país.

La mayoría de los 45 opositores excarcelados desde mediados del 2010 tras un acuerdo entre Castro y la Iglesia aceptaron la propuesta de marchar al exilio en España y otros países con sus familiares. El Mundo

México sufre el día más violento desde que asumió Calderón: 79 asesinatos

Con 79 muertes, México sufrió el viernes su día más violento desde que asumió el presidente Felipe Calderón, hace cuatro años, según un recuento que publica este sábado el diario mexicano 'La Jornada'.

En los 18 primeros días de febrero hubo 566 asesinatos y, de mantenerse la tendencia, se superarán los 852 de febrero de año pasado, señaló el diario.

El recuento del viernes incluye a 12 asesinados en el área de Acapulco, donde presuntos grupos del crimen organizado incendiaron y dispararon a automóviles, además de cinco en un bar de Torreón, 14 en el estado de Nuevo León y 15 en Ciudad Juárez.

Aunque los recuentos no siempre son coincidentes, es un hecho que 2011 empezó con una marcada violencia a pesar del despliegue de más de 60.000 militares y policías en todo el país para combatir a los cárteles.

Según el diario 'Reforma', este año van 1.625 asesinatos, de los cuales 288 se registraron en la semana del 5 al 11 de febrero.

En 2010 hubo más de 15.000 muertos en todo el país asociados a la delincuencia organizada, con los que suman más de 34.000 desde el inicio del gobierno de Calderón el 1 de diciembre de 2006. El Mundo

Custo: 24 horas en la Semana de la Moda de Nueva York

En una oficina de Times Square Custo Dalmau preparó las horas previas a su desfile en la Semana de la Moda Nueva York, donde el pasado domingo 13 mostró sus propuestas para el próximo Otoño/Invierno.

"Mañana esperamos que se presente la colección, 21 salidas para hombre y 50 para mujer, que hemos titulado 'Limpio pero no tanto'", dice el diseñador español a ELMUNDO.es.

Custo, un habitual de las pasarelas internacionales, nos explicó que esta temporada da un giro a su insignia con la incorporación de una nueva paleta de colores en unos diseños en tres dimensiones.

"La idea es que el punto partida sean colores suaves, neutros, muy lavados, y que a través del trabajo de detalles consigamos crear un lenguaje final de contemporaneidad y sofisticación".

Desde el orden de salida de los modelos, las últimas pruebas de los vestidos, hasta la música que acompañará al desfile, el leridano, rodeado en todo momento de su equipo, se sumerge en cada uno de los detalles para garantizar que su 'show' sea otro éxito.

"Para nosotros es importante que el desfile vaya 'in crescendo', que conceptualmente vaya ganado en peso, si hemos apostando por color, grafismo o fusión de materiales todo esto tiene que ir de la primera salida a la última por orden de intensidad".

Minutos antes

Ya en el backstage del Lincoln Center de la Gran Manzana, el diseñador se enfrenta al estrés y movimiento frenético de los últimos minutos antes del inicio del desfile, aunque bromea que "no está nervioso" porque todavía no ha tomado ningún café.

Los medios se agolpan para entrevistarle en los preámbulos de su desfile y los modelos que lucirán sus prendas aguantan con toda naturalidad los 'flashes' de las decenas de cámaras. Periodistas y asistentes VIPtratan de acercarse al ajetreado protagonista de la noche. Los que no lo consiguen le observan desde la distancia. Ya está todo listo para la salida.

Las luces se apagan y con los primeros ritmos de música arranca el espectáculo y tras él una ovación de los asistentes, que vuelve a poner de manifiesto que, desde su desembarcó en 1997, Custo se mueve como pez en el agua en la Fashion Week de Nueva York. El Mundo

Según un cable de Wikileaks, Chile teme un fallo favorable a Perú en La Haya

Chile tuvo temores ante posiciones de la Corte de La Haya que podrían tener influencia en el caso de la demanda que le interpuso el Perú por los límites marítimos, según cables diplomáticos de Estados Unidos que llegaron a Wikileaks y fueron publicados este sábado por el diario limeño "El Comercio".

Según esos documentos, que también señalan que Santiago considera difícil defender a la ciudad de Arica de un ataque militar del Perú, diplomáticos chilenos expresaron el temor en enero de 2008, después de que la tribunal internacional tuviera en otro caso, el de Colombia contra Nicaragua, una posición que favorece supuestamente el reclamo peruano.

"XX (un diplomático de Chile) agregó que su gobierno estaba más preocupado de que La Haya pudiera hacer concesiones al Perúdespués de la decisión unánime de la Corte, en diciembre, al fallar en una disputa marítima similar entre Colombia y Nicaragua. Esta decisión podía, de manera efectiva, invalidar un acuerdo bilateral demarcando el territorio, según XX, en terrenos donde solo un tratado pleno podía hacer tales demarcaciones", dice uno de los textos.

El documento agrega: "XX temía que este argumento pudiera abrir una pequeña ventana para el contencioso peruano de que los acuerdos pesqueros de 1952 y 1954 no fueran instrumentos legales suficientes para establecer la frontera. XX dijo que estaban menos preocupados acerca del fallo de octubre sobre una disputa fronteriza entre Honduras y Nicaragua".

Según "El Comercio", los fallos en esos dos casos efectivamente ayudan al Perú. "Nosotros estábamos esperando esos fallos a pesar de que la oposición nos presionaba en ese entonces para presentar cuanto antes la demanda", dijo una fuehte diplomática peruana consultada por el diario.

Otro documento entregado por Wikileaks señala que Chile considera "poco probable" un conflicto bélico con el Perú y reconoce las dificultades de proteger a Arica de una eventualidad de ese tipo, pese a lo cual tienen activados allí mecanismos militares.

"Según los dos funcionarios del gobierno (chileno), los militares determinaron que sería muy difícil defender la ciudad debido a los numerosos desfiladeros. En cambio, los militares han planeado una línea fuerte al norte de Iquique y han estacionado la mayoría de sus F-16 allí", indica el texto.

"Mientras que sí es cierto que Arica es geográficamente difícil de ser defendida, las fuerzas terrestres chilenas no tienen intención de abandonar la ciudad en la poco probable eventualidad de que fuera atacada", agrega.

El Perú demandó a Chile ante La Haya porque afirma que los límites marítimos no están establecidos. Santiago sostiene que lo están y son los vigentes, por acuerdos firmados en 1952 y 1954, pero Lima responde que esos documentos no tienen alcance de límites. El caso está en proceso.

Wikileaks le entregó la semana pasada a "El Comercio" varios cables de la diplomacia estadounidense referidos a asuntos del Perú. El diario los está publicando paulatinamente. El Mundo

El Vaticano declara culpable de abusos sexuales a menores a un cura chileno

Lo que parecía otro caso de abuso sexual a menores por parte de sacerdotes ha dado una vuelta de tuerca. El Vaticano ha declarado culpable al párroco de la iglesia santiaguina de El Bosque, Fernando Karadima, de 80 años de edad.

La resolución de la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe fue dada a conocer por el arzobispo de Santiago, Ricardo Ezzati, quien indicó que "sobre la base de las pruebas adquiridas, el reverendo Fernado Karadima Fariña es declarado culpable de los delitos mencionados en precedencia y, en modo particular, del delito de abuso de menor en contra de más víctimas".

Abusos en la parroquia

Los primeros testimonios en contra de Fernando Karadima llegaron a oídos de la iglesia chilena en 2004. Ese año el Arzobispado de Santiago recibió una carta en la cual se decía que el sacerdote abusaba de los jóvenes que acudían a su parroquia. En 2006, el cardenal Francisco Javier Errázuriz abrió una investigación interna para dilucidar la veracidad de las acusaciones.

Según un familiar de una de las presuntas víctimas, el sacerdote solía recurrir a un mismo 'modus operandi' para concretar los supuestos abusos: "Primero generaba un férreo lazo de confianza con los jóvenes que lo seguían. Luego, identificaba a los más vulnerables y, consciente de su carisma y de la admiración que en ellos provocaba, los convencía de que se encontraban entre sus más cercanos".

El castigo que le ha impuesto la iglesia será el retiro a una vida de oración y penitencia. "Vivirá dentro o fuera de la diócesis para evitar absolutamente el contacto con sus ex parroquianos o con miembros de la unión sacerdotal, o con personas que se hayan dirigido espiritualmente con él", explicó Ricardo Ezzati, arzobispo de Santiago.

Se le prohíbe así de manera indefinida el ejercicio público de cualquier acto del ministerio, en particular la confesión y la dirección espiritual. Además, no podrá asumir ningún encargo en la Unión Sacerdotal del Sagrado Corazón. "Esto no quiere decir que el padre esté en una cárcel y que no tenga posibilidad de juntarse con otras personas”, añadió el arzobispo.

Dinero por no hablar

Después de siete meses desde que se iniciara el proceso penal administrativo de la Congregación para la Doctrina de la Fe, el 16 de enero el Vaticano envió al arzobispo de Santiago su dictamen del caso Karadima. Se le declaraba culpable de abuso de menores y de abuso de autoridad. Ezzati tardó un mes en hacer público el fallo vaticano.

El sacerdote sigue alegando inocencia y su abogado se prepara para apelar a la decisión de la Santa Sede. Hace meses que la justicia legal cerró el caso pero la decisión tomada por El Vaticano ha hecho que se estudie la posibilidad de reabrir el caso. La decisión se sabrá el próximo miércoles.

Fernando Karadima, el líder de la Unión Sacerdotal, fue acusado además de poseer varios millones de dólares en propiedades. El CIPER (Centro de Investigación e Información Periodística) detectó hace ya varios años más de una decena de inmuebles a nombre de la organización (evaluados en más de diez millones de dólares), que era controlada por la parroquia El Bosque. Se investigan también supuestos pagos millonarios por parte del círculo Karadima a personas que denunciaban abusos o que pudieron ser testigos. El Mundo

Sehwag century sets up India victory in World Cup opener

(CNN) -- Virender Sehwag smashed a career-best one-day innings of 175 as India opened the 2011 Cricket World Cup with a convincing 87-run victory over co-hosts Bangladesh in Dhaka on Saturday.

Opening batsman Sehwag put on 203 for the third wicket with Virat Kohli, who was unbeaten on 100, as India compiled 370-4 in the allotted 50 overs -- the fifth-highest total in tournament history.

Bangladesh made a game effort in reply but could manage only 283-9, crucially losing five wickets while scoring just 47 runs in the final 10 overs of the match.

Sehwag, who hit 14 boundaries and five sixes in his 140-ball knock, matched the 175 not out by compatriot Kapil Dev in 1983 which is the fourth-highest score in World Cup matches.

"It was a good start for the team, I have said this is a revenge game and we have won," the 32-year-old told reporters. CNN

More than 100 injured in platform collapse at Peruvian soccer match

(CNN) -- More than 100 people were injured, 12 of them critically, when a metal platform at a soccer stadium collapsed during a youth tournament in Lima, Peru, the state-run news agency Andina reported.

The viewing stand installed in Monumental Stadium in the Ate district was packed with people and started swaying just as the teams were preparing to march in a parade Friday to commence the Copa Crema Jose Luis "Puma" Carranza tournament, Andina said.

Fire department commander Alfonso Panizo said the most serious injuries were to the neck and back, with some broken ribs. Many minor injuries were treated at the scene, and the individuals went home on their own, fire officials said.

Children who witnessed the collapse told Peruvian television that the overloaded platform included candy vendors.

"Everyone piled in. The platform moved from one side to another, and everyone started screaming. Then the platform went over to one side," the state-run media agency reported children as telling television. CNN

Oprah student questioned over dead baby

(CNN) -- A student of Oprah Winfrey's Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa is being questioned in the death of an infant, authorities said.

The body of the newborn boy was found in the 17-year-old girl's bag as she was being treated in a hospital for excessive bleeding.

Police suspect she gave birth at the school, but say it is unclear if the child died naturally or was killed at birth. An autopsy was under way.

American talk-show host Oprah Winfrey opened the school in January 2007 to provide educational opportunities for impoverished girls in South Africa. CNN

Insurgents raid Afghan bank; 12 killed

Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) -- Armed insurgents killed nine people during a raid on a bank in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday, and at least three militants were killed, officials said.

The attackers stormed a branch of the Kabul Bank in Jalalabad, the provincial capital of Nangarhar, said Ahmadzia Abdulzai, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

The head of the province's public health department, Baz Mohammad Sherzad, confirmed the nine deaths, and Abdulzai said three insurgents were killed and as many as 70 people were wounded.

The NATO command in Afghanistan said reports indicated that it might have been a suicide attack. It issued a statement saying three people apparently entered the bank wearing suicide vests and detonated themselves.

But Abdulzai couldn't confirm a suicide strike but said there were many casualties because of explosions in the building.

Fighting between insurgents and security forces lasted for more than four hours, Abdulzai said. An eyewitness said some civilians were taken hostage. CNN

Mother of dead Cuban hunger striker released

Havana, Cuba (CNN) -- The mother of a Cuban political prisoner who died after a prolonged hunger strike a year ago was released Saturday after being briefly detained ahead of the first anniversary of her son's death.

Reina Luisa Tamayo said Saturday that she and her husband were released after being held by authorities for 12 hours. She didn't know whether a third dissident was also freed.

Tamayo, mother of Orlando Zapata Tamayo, and the others were detained in the eastern city of Banes on Friday morning, according to her another family member, who said they were "badly beaten".

"They were on their way to the center of town," Jose Luis Ortiz Tamayo told CNN Friday, adding that local officials told him that they were arrested because Reina Luisa Tamayo had offended a policeman.

Zapata died on February 23 after fasting for more than 80 days to demand better conditions for political prisoners. His death set off a chain of events that has culminated in Cuba's biggest release of political prisoners in more than a decade.

The Cuban government considers the dissidents "mercenaries" paid by the United States to try to destabilize the island. But in the face of international pressure, President Raul Castro reached an agreement last summer with the Catholic Church and Spain to free 52 political prisoners arrested during a crackdown in 2003.

Zapata's mother has become an outspoken critic of the government, staging very public protests and accusing Castro of "assassinating" her son.

She and other dissidents have been expected to organize marches over the next week to mark the anniversary of Zapata's death. CNN

Deep budget cuts passed by US House of Representatives

The US House of Representatives has approved deep cuts in federal spending, in a vote regarded as a victory for the new Republican majority in the house.

The vote - largely along party lines - approved $61bn (£38bn) in reduced federal spending between now and the end of budget year on 30 September.

President Barack Obama has outlined a plan for less drastic cuts in 2012.

The house's spending bill now goes before the Senate, which is controlled by the president's Democratic Party.

After the overnight vote, the House of Representatives' Speaker, John Boehner, said it was part of Republican efforts "to liberate our economy from the shackles of out-of-control spending".

Many new Republican house members elected last November have called for swingeing cuts in federal programmes.

Correspondents say the current bill is likely to be opposed by both Mr Obama and the Senate Democrats.

On Monday the president outlined budget plans aimed at cutting $1.1tn (£690bn) from the US deficit over a decade.

He said that while the US must live within its means, it should not "sacrifice our future" with drastic reductions.

Although Mr Obama is empowered to propose a budget, it is up to the US Congress to pass it into law and then to distribute the funds. BBC News

Libya protests: 84 killed in growing unrest, says HRW

The number of people killed in three days of protests in Libya has risen to 84, according to the New York-based group Human Rights Watch.

The main focus of the demonstrations against Col Muammar Gaddafi's 42-year rule has been the second city Benghazi, where security forces are said to have attacked protesters again on Saturday.

On Friday, one hospital in the city reported 35 deaths.

State media have warned of retaliation if the unrest continues.

Media restrictions make it difficult to verify reports independently but the BBC has confirmed that websites including Facebook and al-Jazeera Arabic were blocked.

Security forces opened fire in Benghazi on Friday when protesters approached a compound used by Col Gaddafi when he visits the city, which is about 1,000 km (600 miles) from the capital Tripoli, eyewitnesses say. BBC News

Nadal to make Davis Cup comeback in Spain tie with Belgium

(CNN) -- World number one Rafael Nadal will return to Davis Cup action for the first time since 2009 next month, when he leads Spain in its world group first-round clash against Belgium.

It will be the first time the 24-year-old has played in the competition since he was part of the Spanish side that beat the Czech Republic in the final two years ago.

The tie, which takes place in the Belgian town of Charleroi from March 4-6, will also be Nadal's first competitive match since he sustained a wrist injury in his Australian Open quarterfinal loss to compatriot David Ferrer.

The Mallorcan was named in the Spanish squad alongside world number 6 Ferrer, number nine Fernando Verdasco and 41-ranked Feliciano Lopez by team captain Albert Costa at a press conference in Alicante on Friday.

"Having the world number one and best sportsman of 2010 brings a winning spirit and stability to the team," Costa told the official ATP Tour website.

"After the small injury he had in Australia he has done what he needed to do to be able to return to training. His training is progressing, and when he joins our training camp he'll be in perfect condition," the former world number six added. CNN

W.Va. mother accused of being drunk, high and smothering baby

(CNN) -- More than eight months after claiming that her 3-month-old baby mysteriously died overnight, a West Virginia mother now stands accused of drunkenly falling on the child and smothering her to death.

Investigators said Friday that Leslie Erin Boggs' story has long seemed inconsistent with the medical examiner's report on the death of Raynna Rea Boggs in May. But they did not proceed with their case until her newlywed husband, Thomas Myers, gave a fuller account last month of what he said he saw the morning of the baby girl's death.

"She got wasted, she got drunk, she got high, and she fell asleep and rolled over on the child," Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney Mark Plant said Friday night on HLN's "Nancy Grace," summarizing authorities' belief of how the baby died.

As of Friday, Boggs was in custody on a $500,000 cash bond, two days after being charged with child neglect resulting in death. CNN

Discovery's final flight scheduled for Thursday

(CNN) -- Weather and conditions permitting, space shuttle Discovery will lift off Thursday on its final flight, NASA announced Friday.

The six-member crew will deliver a storage module, a science rig and spare parts to the international space station during its 11-day mission.

Originally scheduled for November, Discovery's launch was delayed because of repairs to the external tank's support beams.

NASA, which is winding down the shuttle program, announced the February 24 launch a few weeks ago, but confirmed it after a meeting briefing Friday. This will be Discovery's 39th voyage.

The launch is scheduled for 4:50 p.m. at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Astronaut Steve Bowen was assigned to take the place of Tim Kopra, who was injured in a bicycle accident, NASA said.

The last scheduled launch of space shuttle Endeavour is currently on for April 19 and shuttle Atlantis is tentatively scheduled to launch during the summer. CNN

Uganda's incumbent president takes an early lead in poll

(CNN) -- Uganda's incumbent leader took an early lead Saturday in a presidential election that could see him extend his 25 years in office.

President Yoweri Museveni has led the country since a rebel group he was aligned with seized power in 1986. A new term would give him five more years.

He had 71% with about a fifth of the votes counted, election officials said. Opposition front-runner Kizza Besigye had 22%.

Final results will be released in 24 hours, election officials said Saturday.

Museveni has vowed to quash any Egypt-like uprisings aimed at toppling regimes that have been in power for a long time. CNN

Man sentenced to life in prison for JFK bomb plot

New York (CNN) -- A federal judge on Thursday sentenced a Guyanese man convicted of plotting to detonate explosives at John F. Kennedy International Airport to life behind bars.

Russell Defreitas was found guilty of conspiring to explode fuel tanks and a fuel pipeline at the airport after being arrested in 2007, according to a statement from the U.S. Eastern District Court of New York.

The 67-year-old cargo worker was convicted on charges that included conspiracy to attack aircraft and aircraft materials, and conspiracy to destroy international airport facilities, the statement said.

"Russell Defreitas plotted to commit a terrorist attack that he hoped would rival 9/11," U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch said in the statement. "Now, our courts have dispensed justice by handing out the life sentence that Defreitas richly deserves".

Co-conspirator Abdul Kadir, a former Guyana Parliament member, was sentenced to life in prison in December, the statement said.

A third man, Kareem Ibrahim, a native of Trinidad, is still awaiting trial.

In the trial of Kadir and Defreitas, prosecutors said the men tapped into an international network of Muslim extremists to develop the plot and start working toward carrying it out.

The men obtained satellite photos of the airport and used Defreitas's knowledge of the facility to conduct surveillance and identify possible targets and escape routes.

An informant secretly taped conversations in which Defreitas described the symbolic importance of targeting the international airport named for assassinated President John F. Kennedy, the complaint said.

"Anytime you hit Kennedy, it is the most hurtful thing to the United States," the complaint quoted him as saying. "If you hit that, this whole country will be in mourning. It's like you kill the man twice".

New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly has said officials were concerned about attacks not only on the airport but also on the 40-mile aviation fuel pipeline that runs from a fuel tank farm at JFK through Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. CNN

U.S. vetoes U.N. resolution declaring Israeli settlements illegal

United Nations (CNN) -- The United States vetoed Friday a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have declared Israeli settlements in the West Bank illegal.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said that while the United States agrees about "the folly and illegitimacy of continued Israeli settlement activity, we think it unwise for this council to attempt to resolve the core issues that divide Israelis and Palestinians".

The veto is the first to be used under the Obama administration.

Ambassador Riyad Mansour, the permanent observer of Palestine to the United Nations, objected to the veto in a statement following the vote.

"The proper message that should have been sent by the Security Council to Israel, the occupying power, is that its contempt of international law and the international community will no longer be tolerated," he said. "We fear, however, that the message sent today may be one that only encourages further Israeli intransigence and impunity. This must be remedied".

Rice noted conversations in recent days between U.S. and Palestinian leaders in an attempt to compromise on the issue of Israeli settlements.

"In recent days, we offered a constructive alternative course that we believe would have allowed the council to act unanimously to support the pursuit of peace," she said. "We regret that this effort was not successful and thus is no longer viable".

Israel praised the veto, saying in a statement that the decision "contributes to the resumption of the diplomatic process and (it) regrets that the other Security Council members have refrained from making the same contribution".

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday called Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the resolution and speak about alternatives to a Security Council vote, according to a diplomatic source. Among the options that had been floated, American and Palestinian officials said, was the issuance of a Security Council presidential statement, which is weaker than an actual resolution.

Obama told Abbas that if he didn't withdraw the resolution, it would put the United States in an awkward position and that U.S.-Palestinian relations would suffer as a result, the source said.

"Well, there were attempts at persuasion, (but) let me put it politely: We are even more persuaded by the rights of the Palestinian people," said Hanan Ashrawi, a veteran Palestinian legislator and Palestine Liberation Organization executive committee member. "We are more committed to international law and to the requirements of peace, and all these require that settlement activity should stop and that the Security Council should take a resolution condemning all settlement activities as being illegal and as being in direct contradiction of the requirement of peace". CNN

Somali pirates seize yacht with four Americans onboard

(CNN) -- Somali pirates hijacked a yacht with four Americans onboard in the Indian Ocean, U.S. military officials said Saturday.

The identities of the Americans were not immediately known, but the yacht, the S/V Quest, is owned by Jean and Scott Adam, according to Ecoterra International, a piracy watchdog group.

It is not clear whether the Adams -- who were on a worldwide cruise -- are onboard.

Authorities said the yacht was en route from India to Oman when it was captured Friday.

"If the owners are onboard, it would be a sad log for the couple on their seven-year world journey," Ecoterra International said.

The Adams website documents their worldwide voyage, which started in late 2004. It includes trips to New Zealand, China, Cambodia and Panama.

On the site, the Adams say their mission "is to allow the power of the word to transform lives ... (and) seek fertile ground for the word and homes for our Bibles".

A post earlier this year said they would refuel in Djibouti waters, another pirate flash point.

"Djibouti is a big refueling stop," said the post, which is not dated. "I have no idea what will happen in these ports, but perhaps we'll do some local touring".

U.S. military officials said they are keeping an eye on the situation.

"We are aware of the situation and we are monitoring the situation carefully," said Bob Prucha, a spokesman for the United States Central Command. "We have been aware for some time".

Piracy has flourished off the coast of Somalia, which has not had an effective government for two decades. In April 2009, pirates seized the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, leading to a standoff in the Indian Ocean.

U.S. forces moved to rescue American Capt. Richard Phillips after seeing a pirate aiming a weapon on his back, officials said at the time. Three pirates were killed and one was arrested.

The Somali man arrested was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison. CNN