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French frigate stops pirates trying to hijack ship
01/28/2009 Source:Translation: RusNavy.com
Le Floreal, a French frigate, on Tuesday seized two motorboats full of pirates as the later prepared to approach a cargo ship off the coast of Somalia, the French media reported citing military sources.
The ship received a distress call and sent out helicopters to help. The French warship seized two motorboats with nine armed people and ammunition inside, as well as makeshift ramps used to board civilian cargo ships, after they failed to heed warning shots.
The pirates have been taken onboard the French frigate, and their fate will be decided in coordination with the command of the EU operation Atalanta.
A coalition made up of the navies of 16 countries is now attempting to stem the activity of pirates in the Gulf of Eden. The EU Atalanta operation, made up of EU ships, as well as NATO warships, has joined the effort. The Russian destroyer Admiral Vinogradov also patrols the Gulf and escorts merchant ships.
Somali authorities so far have been unable to do anything about the pirates infesting the Gulf, due to the continuing civil war in the country, which is now in its fifteen year. According to the UN, Somali pirates could earn up to US$150 million dollars from their illegal activities this year alone.