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Africa Horn
Somali pirates step up hijacking spree
2009-04-16
[Al Arabiya Latest] Somali pirates seized two more ships on Tuesday, brushing off their losses from deadly rescue operations and throwing down the gauntlet to U.S. President Barack Obama after he pledged to curb piracy.

It brought to four the number of vessels taken since the U.S. navy operation on Sunday which saved an American skipper but led to the deaths of three pirates, upping the stakes in the dangerous waters off the Horn of Africa.

The MV Irena, a Greek-operated merchant vessel flagged in Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines, was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, the European Union's naval mission in the area said. Its 22 Filipino crew is believed to be safe.
Wait til the Grenadine Navy gets there ...
Hours later a NATO spokeswoman said a second freighter, Lebanese-owned and flying a Togolese flag, had been seized by pirates off the Horn of Africa, the 10th hijacking in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean this month.
Ditto the Togan Navy (or is it Togoan, I'm never sure).
"I can confirm that a second cargo ship, the Sea Horse, has been seized," said spokeswoman Shona Lowe from NATO's Northwood maritime command centre in England. She could not provide details on the numbers or nationalities that had been aboard the ship.
Posted by:Fred

#1  Desparate measures for desparate times. If the pirates don't capture and some US vessels and crews soon, they will lose credibility. Piracy is getting too dangerous to send your boys out to do. Mom's throughout Somali should be encouraging their sons to take up a safer line of work, like smuggling.
Posted by: Richard of Oregon   2009-04-16 04:12  

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