Spain could delay Somalia anti-piracy plans -paper

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

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MADRID, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Spain could delay sending about 200 military personnel to participate in the international anti-piracy naval operation off the coast of Somalia, Spanish daily ABC reported on Tuesday, citing unnamed military sources.

Defence Minister Carme Chacon has decided not to seek authorisation from parliament on Wednesday to send the Spanish ship SPS Victoria to the Somali coast, which means it will not set sail on Jan. 8, as was expected, ABC said.

The sources cited by the newspaper said the ship may now join the task force in the second phase of the anti-piracy operation, called Atlanta.

The European Union agreed on Monday to launch the operation off the coast of Somalia involving warships and aircraft from several nations.

Last month, Chacon said Spain would send an initial 196 military personnel to participate in the Atlanta operation, with a further 114 due to be sent out later in the year.

No one at the Defence Ministry was immediately available to comment.

SOURCE: Reuters, Tuesday, December 09, 2008

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