An international piracy conference in Kuala Lumpur has backed off on tough proposals for a UN naval taskforce to be set up to fight Somali pirates after members disagreed on Tuesday over how they would implement the measure.
Somali pirates seized a small Dutch vessel on Thursday with eight crew members on board, the latest in a string of hijackings in the Gulf of Aden. Pirate activity has stepped up despite strong international naval deployment in the region.
A Frenchman held hostage with his family by Somali pirates was killed by French forces during an April 10 rescue, Europe 1 radio reports. An inquiry is ongoing to determine conclusively whether he was shot by special forces or by his captors.
Crew members on board the French naval frigate Nivose captured 11 suspected Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya on Sunday, according to a reporter on board the Nivose.
Somali pirates seized a Pakistani-owned ship Sunday hours after a Greek-owned carrier and a Ukrainian ship were seized. Pirates are taking advantage of favourable weather conditions before the start of the monsoon season in the region.
Maritime officials say Somali pirates have hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier reportedly transporting soy beans, in their first successful attack in almost a week. Pirates claim to have seized a second vessel carrying UN vehicles.
A helicopter from a Portuguese frigate has thwarted a pirate attack on a merchant ship off the Somali coast and briefly detained and disarmed 19 would-be hi-jackers. The pirates had targeted a Norwegian tanker.
A Russian naval destroyer seized 29 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia, Russian news agencies have reported, quoting defence ministry officials. Guns and satellite navigation equipment were found during a search on their boat.
Somali gunman released one Dutch and one Belgian aid worker for Doctors Without Borders. The kidnappers were from the same group that abducted four aid workers employed by the United Nations on March 16 in Wajid.
A Spanish warship has intercepted a skiff with nine suspected Somali pirates who are believed to be responsible for an attack on an Italian cruise ship over the weekend.
