World

EU force to fight Somali pirates

by Dave Keating | October 2, 2008 at 02:45 am

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The EU is going to undertake a policing measure to fight the pirates off the coast of Somalia. So far operations by combined EU policing forces have been limited mostly just to the Balkans, but lately, under the EU presidency of France under Nicolas Sarkozy, they have become more ambitious. This week EU-controlled troops began monitoring the cease fire between Georgia and Russia, and now they will be engaged in a naval operation outside Europe.

The European Union has agreed to establish an anti-piracy security operation off the coast of Somalia.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin said at least eight countries have agreed to take part.

The deal follows the seizure of a ship laden with 33 tanks - a $20m (£11m) ransom is wanted for its release.

Meanwhile, police in Kenya have arrested a maritime official who said that the battle tanks were destined for southern Sudan, rather than Kenya.

Andrew Mwangura - who's the spokesman for the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Programme - is likely to be charged with issuing an inflammatory statement.