<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published April 15, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Greek-flagged tanker hijacked off Somali coast
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(NAIROBI) Somali pirates have hijacked a Greek-flagged tanker off the coast of Somalia, a regional maritime official confirmed yesterday.
China's Xinhua news agency reported that Andrew Mwangura, the East Africa's Coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP), said the MV Irene EM was seized in the Gulf of Aden before dawn but could not confirm the nationalities of the crew on board.
The overnight attack is the latest in the world's most dangerous waters which came days after several pirates were killed by United States and French forces.
Reports from the EU Maritime Security Centre said the Irene, a 35,000-tonne Greek-owned vessel, was seized overnight.
The centre said the 22-man crew is believed to be unhurt and shipping has been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attacks.
The seizure came soon after US navy forces rescued Richard Phillips, an American cargo ship captain, on Sunday by killing three young pirates who held him captive in a powerless lifeboat for five days.
A fourth pirate surrendered after seeking medical treatment for a wound he received in trying to take over Mr Phillips' vessel, the Maersk Alabama.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The attacks occur despite dozens of warships from a number of countries, which are patrolling the Somali coastline and have been dispatched as a deterrent, but there is no way they can cover the large swath of the Indian Ocean in which pirates operate.
Seven pirates have been killed in the last seven days by the US and French navies, but that does not seem to have stopped their crimes.
Sources said over-fishing has deprived the Somalis of a vital food source and they reacted by forming their own rag-tag 'coast guard' whose aim is to arrest and 'tax' foreign vessels in their waters. -- Bernama
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Greek-flagged tanker hijacked off Somali coast
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</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(NAIROBI) Somali pirates have hijacked a Greek-flagged tanker off the coast of Somalia, a regional maritime official confirmed yesterday.
China's Xinhua news agency reported that Andrew Mwangura, the East Africa's Coordinator of Seafarers Assistance Programme (SAP), said the MV Irene EM was seized in the Gulf of Aden before dawn but could not confirm the nationalities of the crew on board.
The overnight attack is the latest in the world's most dangerous waters which came days after several pirates were killed by United States and French forces.
Reports from the EU Maritime Security Centre said the Irene, a 35,000-tonne Greek-owned vessel, was seized overnight.
The centre said the 22-man crew is believed to be unhurt and shipping has been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attacks.
The seizure came soon after US navy forces rescued Richard Phillips, an American cargo ship captain, on Sunday by killing three young pirates who held him captive in a powerless lifeboat for five days.
A fourth pirate surrendered after seeking medical treatment for a wound he received in trying to take over Mr Phillips' vessel, the Maersk Alabama.
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Seven pirates have been killed in the last seven days by the US and French navies, but that does not seem to have stopped their crimes.
Sources said over-fishing has deprived the Somalis of a vital food source and they reacted by forming their own rag-tag 'coast guard' whose aim is to arrest and 'tax' foreign vessels in their waters. -- Bernama
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