Concerted, effective int'l efforts needed in cubing piracy off Somali coasts

NAIROBI, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- Andrew Mwangura, East African coordinator of the Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) said on Friday in a phone interview with Xinhua that to curb the rampant piracy off the Somali coast, concerted and effective international efforts are needed.
Mwangura was responding to the shocking number of ships captured off the Somali coast lines in recent weeks more..http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/19/content_10080767.htm

RP alarmed over spate of Somali pirate attacks

The Philippine government is alarmed over the spate of hijacking incidents in Somalia involving vessels with Filipino seafarers on board.
“The international community must come in now,” said Foreign Affairs Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs Esteban Conejos Jr.
The number of kidnapped Filipino seamen on board vessels hijacked by by Somali pirates has reached 80.Reports said the problem became serious July this year when Somali pirates hijacked the MV Stella Maris with 20 Filipino seafarers on board. This was followed by hijacking incidents against other vessels.On Wednesday, Somali pirates hijacked a Greek-owned freighter MT Centauri. which is manned by 26 crew, all-Filipinos. more..http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/pinoy-migration/09/19/08/rp-alarmed-over-spate-somali-pirate-attacks

Spain sends reconnaissance plane to Somalia in anti-piracy mission

Seville - Spain has sent a reconnaissance aircraft and 90 soldiers to Somalia as part of its efforts to combat the recent upswing in piracy off the coast of the African state, the Spanish Ministry of Defence said on Saturday.
The surveillance plane as well as two troop transport and equipment flights left from Moron airbase near Seville in southern Spain and will operate from a base in Djibouti, the ministry said. more..http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/africa/news/article_1432055.php/Spain_sends_reconnaissance_plane_to_Somalia_in_anti-piracy_mission_