AP – NAIROBI, Kenya – 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.

Somali Foreign Minister 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 Wednesday.

Officials have said the lifeboat is out of fuel and being monitored by U.S. ships and aircraft.

“The pirates are playing with fire and have got themselves into a situation where they have to extricate themselves because there is no way they can win,” Omaar said.