Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. November 17, 2008 Pirates Hijack Saudi Tanker off Kenyan Coast -------------------------------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1F71AB0:A6F02AD83191E1608553A4AA4C98DF6198CBE7246176B735& Spokesman for US Navy's Fifth Fleet says pirates seized control of tanker Sirius Star on Saturday The US Navy says pirates have hijacked a Saudi-owned oil tanker off the coast of Kenya. Undated picture of 'Sirius Star' tanker conducting trial run in South Korea A spokesman for the Navy's Fifth Fleet, Lieutenant Nathan Christensen, says pirates seized control of the tanker Sirius Star on Saturday. In a statement Monday, the Navy says the tanker was attacked 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombasa. It says the vessel has a crew of 25, including citizens of Britain, Croatia, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia. The Navy says Sirius Star is flagged in Liberia and is owned by Saudi-based Saudi Aramco. The ship can carry about two million barrels of oil. Pirates based in Somalia have made the waters off east Africa some of the most dangerous in the world. Monday's attack occurred well south of where the Somali pirates usually operate. Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters. .