Pirates 'can be fought' on land

UNITED NATIONS: China is "seriously considering" sending navy ships to Somali waters to fight pirates as the UN on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution for the first time authorizing international land operations against piracy.

The pirates are holding a Chinese vessel and 17 Chinese nationals to ransom. They attacked another Chinese vessel yesterday.

The UN Security Council resolution, passed on Tuesday night, gives countries battling pirates off Somalia's coast a one-year mandate to act against them inside the country.