2009 has seen 5 pirate attacks off Somalia, but they are becoming desperate asthe international community cracks down.
New Year Sees At Least Five Somalia Pirate Attacks: IMB -- AFP
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — The first days of 2009 have seen at least five pirate attacks off Somalia, but the bandits are becoming desperate as the international community cracks down, a maritime watchdog said Saturday.
An Egyptian cargo ship with 28 crew on board was hijacked on New Year's Day, while four other vessels were threatened but managed to escape, some with the help of warships and aircraft belonging to nations patrolling the region.
"There have been a lot of attacks in the past few days, but many of these attacks have not been successful," said Noel Choong, head of the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur.
"The pirates are now beginning to be more desperate because it's harder to hijack ships than before," he told AFP.
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More News On Somali Piracy
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EU Forces Foil Pirate Attacks Near Somalia -- Voice of America
French Forces Swoop After Pirate Alert -- The Times
Somali Pirate Hijackings Decline -- Daily Telegraph
EU Forces Foil Pirate Attacks Near Somalia -- Voice Of America
EU naval forces thwart Somali pirates -- UPI