
A Somali minister has said the problem of piracy in the region is being made worse by the international community paying ransoms. Abdul Karis Osman Issa, public works minister in semi-autonomous Puntland, said investment should be directed at beefing up mainland security. He said the pirates are better financed and armed than the regional government.
Meanwhile, Mogadishu is reportedly calm after three days of fierce fighting which left more than 50 people dead.
See map of how piracy is affecting the region and countries around the world
The public works minister told the BBC the budget for the administration in Puntland, north-east Somalia, where most of the pirates are based, was "very, very, limited". He added: "If the international community helps the Puntland government, Puntland government can do a lot of things, even they can eliminate the pirates. "But the international community, they don't want to help the Puntland state, they want to pay ransoms. "They are just running for ransom, you know... and giving to these pirates and this is what made them strong. "They are giving millions of dollars so this is the problem, created by the international community first." 'Million dollar question' Navies from Nato, the EU, Russia, Japan, China, India, Yemen, US, Malaysia and Singapore have been patrolling the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden to deter pirates, but the number of attacks has continued to rise. ..more..http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8043285.stm
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