Malaysia deploys navy to Somalia

Malaysia is sending three navy ships to the coast of Somalia to protect merchant vessels from piracy. The ships, carrying troops and helicopters, are expected to begin patrolling in the Gulf of Aden in the next few days. Two Malaysian tankers from the shipping line MISC Berhad were seized last month by Somali pirates. The seas off Somalia, close to busy shipping routes, have some of the highest rates of piracy in the world. The country has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered from continual civil strife more..http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7600177.stm

Somali pirates hijack South Korean cargo ship

Somali pirates have hijacked a South Korean cargo ship off the coast of the Horn of Africa nation with 21 crew members aboard, a regional maritime official confirmed on Wednesday. Andrew Mwangura, the coordinator of the East Africa Seafarers Assistance Program (SAP) said the bulker Bright Ruby was seized in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday as it was sailing from Europe to Asia with cargo. more http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=7842825920252114461&postID=8925649807265931424