AP: French navy captures 12 pirates off Somalia

The French navy has seized three boats off Somalia's coast and detained 12 suspected pirates.

The French Defense Ministry said in a statement Friday that the Floreal surveillance boat, backed by a Luxembourg maritime surveillance plane, intercepted a pirate ship and two skiffs 650 nautical miles (about 750 statute miles) east of Hobyo, Somalia.

The French sailors also seized assault rifles, rocket launchers and other weaponry during Thursday's operation which was part of the EU anti-piracy mission in the region. The Defense Ministry says the Luxembourg plane alerted the French to the suspicious boats Wednesday and the French ship was given orders to pursue them.

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BBC: Somali pirates charged in Kenya

Seven Somalis, captured at sea by German naval forces last month, have appeared in court in the Kenyan port of Mombasa accused of piracy.

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AP: Somali pirates detained after firing on vessel

Somali pirates exchanged fire with a French fishing vessel on Wednesday and after speeding away were later stopped and detained by Spanish and German naval units, said the European Union anti-piracy force.

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