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| US to lead new anti-pirate force | US to lead new anti-pirate force |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| A new international force to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia is being formed and will be headed by an American admiral, the US navy says. | A new international force to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia is being formed and will be headed by an American admiral, the US navy says. |
| More than 20 nations are expected to contribute to the force, due to be fully operational later in January. | More than 20 nations are expected to contribute to the force, due to be fully operational later in January. |
| After more than 100 attacks last year, the International Maritime Bureau said increased naval patrols had reduced attacks in December last year. | After more than 100 attacks last year, the International Maritime Bureau said increased naval patrols had reduced attacks in December last year. |
| The EU formed an anti-piracy task force in December. | |
| Ships from other navies, including Canada, Iran, India and China, are also patrolling one of the world's busiest sea lanes - the waters of the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean leading to and from the Suez Canal. | |
| US Navy Rear Admiral Terence McKnight has been named the commander of the new force, called Combined Task Force 151, the US Fifth Fleet said in a statement from its headquarters in Bahrain. | |
| The statement did not say which nations would make up the force. | |
| Despite only two successful hijackings in December, Somali pirates still hold about 15 ships carrying more than 200 crew members. |