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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| EU to begin Somali pirate patrols | EU to begin Somali pirate patrols |
| (3 days later) | |
| European Union warships and aircraft are due to launch anti-piracy patrols off the Somali coast. | |
| At least four ships and two observation planes from several EU countries, including the UK, France and Greece, will escort aid and merchant ships. | |
| The area, including one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, the Gulf of Aden, has seen almost 100 pirate attacks this year. | The area, including one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, the Gulf of Aden, has seen almost 100 pirate attacks this year. |
| It is the first naval operation in the bloc's history. | It is the first naval operation in the bloc's history. |
| It will take over from the existing Nato mission and last at least a year. | It will take over from the existing Nato mission and last at least a year. |
| The goal is not only to increase security for seafarers and shipping in the hazardous Somali waters, but to help in the delivery of food aid to Somalia. | |
| Military force | Military force |
| EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Monday will formally launch the mission, and approve what officials describe as robust rules of engagement. | |
| How do you pay a pirate's ransom?'World only cares about pirates'On patrol with the pirate huntersQ&A: Somali piracy | How do you pay a pirate's ransom?'World only cares about pirates'On patrol with the pirate huntersQ&A: Somali piracy |
| But while EU foreign ministers will authorise the use of military force, the fate of any captured pirates will be unclear. | But while EU foreign ministers will authorise the use of military force, the fate of any captured pirates will be unclear. |
| "The EU is reviewing agreements whereby suspects could be taken by third countries that are willing and in a position to launch criminal proceedings," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. | "The EU is reviewing agreements whereby suspects could be taken by third countries that are willing and in a position to launch criminal proceedings," German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. |
| The operation is the first EU defence mission commanded by a Briton, Rear Admiral Phillip Jones, from the UK's RAF Northwood, which oversees military operations abroad. | The operation is the first EU defence mission commanded by a Briton, Rear Admiral Phillip Jones, from the UK's RAF Northwood, which oversees military operations abroad. |
| Greek Commodore Antonios Papaioannou will run the operation in theatre. | |
| The Saudi supertanker Sirius Star and its crew remain under pirate control after being hijacked in mid-November. | The Saudi supertanker Sirius Star and its crew remain under pirate control after being hijacked in mid-November. |
| It was the biggest tanker ever hijacked, carrying a cargo of two million barrels of oil - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output and worth more than $100m. | It was the biggest tanker ever hijacked, carrying a cargo of two million barrels of oil - a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output and worth more than $100m. |
| Among other vessels being held is the Ukrainian-owned MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks, as well as grenade launchers and ammunition. It was seized on 24 September. | Among other vessels being held is the Ukrainian-owned MV Faina, carrying 33 tanks, as well as grenade launchers and ammunition. It was seized on 24 September. |
| Various countries have ships patrolling the Somali coast, including the US, India, Malaysia and Russia. | Various countries have ships patrolling the Somali coast, including the US, India, Malaysia and Russia. |