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Somali Pirates Capture Cargo Ship in Gulf of Aden

   VOA News 02 August 2010

   The  European  Union  Naval  Force says Somali pirates have hijacked a
   Panamanian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden.
   The  European  Union's  anti-piracy  force said the MV Suez vessel was
   captured  early  Monday.   The  ship has a 23-member crew from Egypt,
   Pakistan, Sri Lanka and India.
   The EU force said the ship's crew called for help when the vessel came
   under  attack  by gunfire, but by the time a naval helicopter arrived,
   the pirates had seized control.
   Pirates  have hijacked dozens of ships over the last few years, taking
   in tens of millions of dollars in ransom payments from ship owners.
   Hijackings  have  continued  this  year  despite patrols off Somalia's
   coast  by  warships from the United States, European Union, NATOÂ  and
   China.
   Somalia's  central  government, fighting an Islamist insurgency, lacks
   the power and resources to combat piracy.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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