WORLD> Middle East
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WORLD> Middle East
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Piracy in Aden Gulf increases fears in Yemen
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-10-05 21:46 He said the countries overlooking the Red Sea and Arab Sea must shoulder responsibility and coordinate efforts to counter piracy, instead of relying on foreign countries. What President Saleh did has displayed his eagerness to safeguard the Red Sea and Arab national security, the foreign minister said. Somali pirates detained 13 vessels with more than 200 sailors on board, including a Ukrainian vessel loaded with 13 tanks, making the waters one of the most dangerous in the world. In late September, UN Special Representative for Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, said Somali pirates continue to pose a serious threat to free maritime trade, free navigation and international security. Humanitarian officials have said the rising poverty levels in Somalia are fuelling the rampant piracy against merchant ships in the Horn of Africa region. The situation is now self-stimulating with seaborne supplies of food aid being badly disrupted, thus exacerbating the needs of many starving people and facilitating further offshore lawlessness. Some observers believe that piracy and its "fruits" have become the largest, single industry on that impoverished land. Somali pirates, on the other hand, justify piracy as a protest to what they termed as the "harmful practices to naval environment" from international vessels. Sanaa is scheduled to host an international meeting in October to counter piracy with participation of countries overlooking the Red Sea. |
