Navy kills suspected pirate

Berlin - The German navy shot dead a suspected pirate off the coast of Somalia on Monday after a boat carrying five men failed to heed warning shots, the German military said.
"After an exchange of fire, one of the men on the boat was critically wounded and died despite immediate medical treatment," a statement said. The suspected pirates threw weapons overboard after the exchange and officials are now inspecting their boat, the statement added.
The German frigate involved - the Brandenburg - was participating in the European Union's Atalanta mission in the lawless Gulf of Aden waters off Somalia. The mission aims to curb attacks by pirates threatening one of the world's busiest maritime trade routes.More than 130 merchant ships were attacked last year, a rise of more than 200% on 2007, according to the Kuala Lumpur-based International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre.Atalanta's commanding officer authorised opening fire, designed to stop the boat from manoeuvring, the statement said. - AFP