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Somali pirates 'seize 30 tanks' Somalia's pirates seize 33 tanks
(about 1 hour later)
Pirates off the coast of Somalia have seized a Ukrainian ship carrying T-72 tanks, an official has said. A Ukrainian ship seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia was carrying 33 tanks and other weapons, the Ukrainian defence minister has confirmed.
Ukraine's foreign ministry said the ship had a crew of 21 and was sailing under a Belize flag to the Kenyan port of Mombasa. Earlier, the country's foreign ministry said the ship had a crew of 21 and was sailing under a Belize flag to the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
A report from Russia's Interfax news agency said earlier that the ship had a cargo of about 30 tanks, as well as spare parts for armoured vehicles.
There has been a recent surge in piracy off the coast of Somalia.There has been a recent surge in piracy off the coast of Somalia.
The country has not had an effective national government for 17 years, leading to a collapse of law and order both on land and at sea. Russia announced on Friday it would start carrying out regular anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia.
A navy spokesman said a warship had been sent to the area earlier this week and the aim of the deployment was to protect Russian citizens and ships.
Somalia has not had an effective national government for 17 years, leading to a collapse of law and order both on land and at sea.
Somali pirates are currently holding more than a dozen hijacked ships in the base in Eyl, a town in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.Somali pirates are currently holding more than a dozen hijacked ships in the base in Eyl, a town in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.
It was not immediately clear where the Ukrainian ship had been taken.It was not immediately clear where the Ukrainian ship had been taken.
Speed boatsSpeed boats
The Ukrainian foreign ministry said the captain of the Faina cargo ship had reported being surrounded by three boats of armed men on Thursday afternoon. The Ukrainian foreign ministry said the captain of the Faina cargo ship had reported being surrounded by three boats of armed men on Thursday afternoon
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7637216.stm">Battles and looting in Mogadishu class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7623329.stm">Life in Somalia's pirate town Andrew Mwangura, who runs the Kenya chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Programme, confirmed to the BBC that the ship was carrying a cargo of tanks. Defence Minister Yury Yekhanurov confirmed that 33 Russian T-72 tanks and "a substantial quantity of ammunition" were aboard.
The cargo's final destination was unclear, with reports suggesting either Kenya or South Sudan. He said all the weapons had been sold in compliance with international agreements, according to a Ukrainian news agency.
Russia said on Friday it would start carrying out regular anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia. A warship was sent to the area earlier this week. The cargo's final destination was unclear, with reports suggesting either Kenya or south Sudan.
A navy spokesman said the move was to protect Russian citizens and Russian ships. class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7637216.stm">Battles and looting in Mogadishu class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7623329.stm">Life in Somalia's pirate town
Security analyst Knox Chitiyo told the BBC that the incident showed that the waters off Somalia's coast had "become a global security problem." Security analyst Knox Chitiyo told the BBC the incident showed that the waters off Somalia's coast had "become a global security problem".
"Piracy has become big business and there seems to be no concerted response to the problem," said Mr Chitiyo, from the London-based Royal United Services Institute."Piracy has become big business and there seems to be no concerted response to the problem," said Mr Chitiyo, from the London-based Royal United Services Institute.
Last week, France circulated a draft UN resolution urging states to deploy naval vessels and aircraft to combat piracy in the area.Last week, France circulated a draft UN resolution urging states to deploy naval vessels and aircraft to combat piracy in the area.
France has intervened twice to free French sailors kidnapped by pirates, with commandos freeing two people whose boat had been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden earlier this month. France has intervened twice to free French sailors kidnapped by pirates. Commandos freed two people whose boat was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden earlier this month.
After an earlier raid in April, six arrested pirates were handed over to French authorities for trial. After an earlier raid in April, six arrested pirates were handed over to the French authorities for trial.
International navies have been escorting humanitarian deliveries to Somalia, where a third of the population needs food aid.International navies have been escorting humanitarian deliveries to Somalia, where a third of the population needs food aid.
Flourishing industryFlourishing industry
Pirates have seized dozens of ships from the major shipping routes near Somalia's coast in recent months.Pirates have seized dozens of ships from the major shipping routes near Somalia's coast in recent months.
Senior UN officials estimate the ransoms they earn from hijacking ships exceed $100m (£54m) a year.Senior UN officials estimate the ransoms they earn from hijacking ships exceed $100m (£54m) a year.
International navies have been escorting aid deliveriesInternational navies have been escorting aid deliveries
Pirate "mother ships" travel far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack passing vessels, sometimes using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). Authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland say they are powerless to confront the pirates, who have been growing in strength. Pirate "mother ships" travel far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack passing vessels, sometimes using rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs).
Authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous region of Puntland say they are powerless to confront the pirates, who have been growing in strength.
In Eyl, where ships are held for ransom, a flourishing local industry has developed.In Eyl, where ships are held for ransom, a flourishing local industry has developed.
Insurgents in Somalia, not known to have links to the pirates, are currently battling a combination of government troops, their Ethiopian allies and African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu and other parts of southern Somalia.Insurgents in Somalia, not known to have links to the pirates, are currently battling a combination of government troops, their Ethiopian allies and African Union peacekeepers in Mogadishu and other parts of southern Somalia.
The US has an anti-terror task force based in neighbouring Djibouti and has carried out several air strikes against the Islamist insurgents, accusing them of sheltering al-Qaeda operatives. The US has an anti-terror task force based in neighbouring Djibouti and has carried out several air strikes against the Islamic insurgents, accusing them of sheltering al-Qaeda operatives.