Second ship seized by Somali pirates

SOMALIA:  Somali pirates hijacked a ship en route from Dubai yesterday and Spain said it had sent a naval frigate after the seizure of a Spanish tuna fishing boat with 26 people aboard off Somalia.

A surge in hijackings for ransom off lawless Somalia has made it one of the world's most dangerous shipping zones.

The Dubai-flagged Al-Khaleej was carrying food for sale in Somalia when it was held up 7km (four miles) off the northeastern Somali port of Bosasso, authorities there said.

Suspected Somali pirates also fired on a Japanese-flagged chemical carrier off Yemen yesterday.

Madrid said it had sent a naval frigate to help rescue the Spanish tuna fishing boat, Playa de Bakio, which was attacked on Sunday.

- (Reuters)

© 2008 The Irish Times

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