04 May 2009

Somali Pirates Hijack Two Cargo Ships

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Victoria, Seychelles (AHN) - Somali pirates have hijacked two ships on Saturday in separate instances, raising concerns of the rising piracy in the first quarter of 2009.

The international maritime authorities said that the pirates have captured a UN-chartered Ukrainian bulkier carrier off coast of East Africa, followed by British-owned Greek bulk carrier Saturday in the Indian Ocean, with 24 crew members on board.

A group of armed Somali men hijacked the UK cargo ship, the MV Ariana, early today carrying 35,000 tons of soya around 250 nautical miles (287 miles) northwest of the Seychelles, a republic consisting of a group of islands off East Africa.

The NATO officials told reporters that they are tracking down to the MV Ariana that is headed towards Somalia. But there were not further details available about the second hijacked vessel.

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