Berlin: German officials say the European
Union is considering expanding the scope of its anti-piracy
mission off the Horn of Africa to allow the destruction of
pirates' equipment on the beaches of Somalia.
The EU's anti-piracy force patrols the seas off the coast
of the country. Somalia has been mired in violence since 1991,
plunging it into a chaos that sprouted militants and piracy.
German Foreign Ministry spokesman Andreas Peschke said
today that the "limited destruction of piracy logistics on the
beach" is under discussion but "no deployment on land." He
stressed that discussions are ongoing and no decision has been
made.
Defence Ministry spokesman Stefan Paris said an EU
committee on December 20 called for the force's commander to
draw up plans for revised rules of engagement.
PTI
First Published: Friday, December 30, 2011, 22:03