U.S. seeks permission to go after pirate ships in Somalia’s waters

U.S. seeks permission to go after pirate ships in Somalia’s waters
By Lisa M. Novak, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, May 1, 2008

Contrary to a Somali official’s criticism about American forces, U.S. Navy officials said piracy off that country’s coast is of great concern to the United States and the international community.

Abdullahi Said Samatar, security affairs minister in Somalia’s semiautonomous Puntland region, was critical about the U.S. after Somali forces rescued a hijacked ship carrying food to the impoverished nation.

The ship, called the al-Khaleej, originated in Dubai and was seized by pirates on April 22. Somalians rescued the vessel and arrested seven suspects, who were sentenced Monday to life in prison, The Associated Press reported. Three other suspects were wounded in the rescue.

“It is sad that the American forces off the coast of Somalia are here for fun and are not combating the pirates,” Samatar said afterward.

Without commenting directly on Samatar’s statement, Navy officials said they have put many resources into combating the problem.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54459

Couldn't help myself.