Wednesday, November 03, 2010
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United Nations, Somali pirates have increased the number of successful hijackings in 2010, become more violent and expanded their attack zone, the UN has said.The pirates staged 37 successful hijackings of ships in the first 10 months of 2010, up from 33 in the same period of 2009, said a report. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the pirates a "scourge".
International Maritime Organization (IMO) inquiries "imply that the level of violence employed by the pirates has increased," said the UN document prepared for the UN Security Council.
The number of attacks has fallen from 193 to 164 as the international naval patrols are more effective, the UN said, quoting IMO figures. But as of October 11, 389 people and 18 vessels were being held ransom by the pirates.
Source: AFP