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NATO ships in new anti-piracy mission off Somalia next week
Brussels (AFP) March 11, 2009 NATO warships will be in position next week to conduct a new anti-piracy operation in a major world shipping area off the coast of Somalia, the alliance's chief spokesman said Wednesday. "NATO ambassadors have now approved the operational plan for the deployment of the standing naval maritime group one to conduct counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia," spokesman James Appathurai told reporters. He said that seven ships -- one each from the United States, Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain, with two vessels from Germany -- would exit the Suez Canal on March 19. "They will be there for about one month, and then they will go on and do port visits, and come back and near the end of June conduct about two more weeks of counter-piracy operations," Appathurai said. The operation has been dubbed "Allied Protector". Pirates attacked more than 130 merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden last year, more than double the 2007 total, according to the International Maritime Bureau, which tracks piracy and shipping security issues. More than 150 suspected pirates were arrested by naval patrols in 2008. In late October, NATO launched its first ever naval mission against pirates, patrolling the Gulf of Aden and dispatching two ships to protect UN food aid convoys to strife-torn Somalia. Related Links 21st Century Pirates
Japan warships to go on Somalia anti-piracy mission
Tokyo (AFP) March 11, 2009Japan is expected to deploy two warships Saturday to pirate-infested waters off Somalia as the government tries to push through legislation to allow its forces more scope for armed response. |
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