Somali pirates hijack another ship, says watchdog

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Oct 15 2008 11:47

Somali pirates hijacked a Philippines-managed bulk carrier with 21 sailors aboard on Wednesday, a maritime watchdog said.

Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau's (IMB) piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur, said pirates boarded the vessel at 3.44am GMT in the notorious Gulf of Aden.

"The ship was sailing from the Middle East to Asia," he said.

Last week Somali pirates seized a Greek tanker and separately attacked a World Food Programme-chartered ship.

According to the IMB, 73 ships have been attacked off Somalia since January, 11 of which are still being held for ransom. Pirates are holding more than 200 crew members.

The Philippines said on Wednesday it supported establishing a coalition of naval forces off Somalia to prevent the hijacking of foreign vessels, many of which have Filipino crews.

Manila will continue to reject ransom demands for its citizens held by pirates, said Esteban Conejos, an undersecretary at the foreign department. -- AFP

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Somali pirates hijack another ship, says watchdog

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