Nairobi: The European Union naval force says
Somali pirates have hijacked a cargo ship west of the island
nation of the Seychelles.
Commander John Harbour said he did not know the
nationalities of the crew members onboard the St. Vincent and
Grenadines-flagged Rak Afrikana.
Harbour said the ship appeared to be experiencing engine
problems at the time it was hijacked early today. EU forces
have been dispatched to investigate.
International naval forces have stepped up their
enforcement of the waters off East Africa in an effort to
thwart a growing pirate trade.
Experts say piracy will continue to be a problem until an
effective government is established on Somalia's lawless
shores. The country has not had a functioning government for
19 years.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, April 11, 2010, 20:13