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 06 July 2008 21:34 BST

Pirates hijack aid ship off Somalian coast

Sunday, 18 May 2008 12:22
Mogadishu requires aid for its humanitarian crisis
A Jordanian ship has been hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia, according to East African maritime officials.

The Victoria was carrying humanitarian aid to Mogadishu when its cargo was seized early yesterday, with contact with the ship lost at around 8AM local time.

It is thought that 4,000 tonnes of sugar supplied by Denmark was on board, alongside an international crew of 12.

Ala'a al-Batayneh, the Jordanian minister of transportation, said that those on the ship sailing from India included crew from Pakistan, India, Tanzania and Bangladesh, reports Jordan's official Petra news agency.

He added that attempts by Jordan in conjunction with the Danish embassy are being made to secure the release of the ship and crew.

Similar attacks in recent months have seen western nations paying ransoms after the hijackings, a move which has been criticised by Somali officials.

This is the latest in a long line of piracy attacks in the region, with recent weeks seeing three ships falling victim to the crime, while a total of 12 vessels have been attacked this year.

As an area with one of the highest rates of piracy in the world, the UN resolution to help limit the attacks was proposed by France and the US last month, arguing for rights to chase and arrest the perpetrators in Somalia's waters.

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