Pirates hijacked Singaporean vessel in the Gulf of Aden

29.06.2010 Nineteen citizens of China are on board Singaporean ship Golden Blessing captured by pirates in the Gulf of Aden off Somali, reported RIA Novosti referring to Chinese maritime search-and-rescue center.

According to the SR center, the vessel was hijacked on Monday when sailing to India from Saudi Arabia. At present, the ship release operation is in progress.

Other details are not available.

Somalia can't find the answer to the problem of piracy since this country ceased to exist as united state in 1991 with falling of Siad Barre dictatorship governed the country since late 60's. Currently, international community recognizes Federal Government of Somalia as the only lawful authority in the country; however, the named government controls only a part of capital city, Mogadishu.

The rest parts of Somalia are either under control of unrecognized state formations or self-governed territories which leaders have different and sometimes even contrary views on integration under reign of Mogadishu.