Somali pirates clock up the ‘hits’
International naval forces must be pulling their hair out after Somali pirates seized a Greek cargo ship and a Yemeni fishing boat, days after striking nearly 2,000km into the Indian Ocean. Piracy is a big earner in the chaotic Horn of Africa state, with governments facilitating payments of millions of dollars in ransom money to release hostages – not always successfully. Reuters says pirates are currently holding at least 13 vessels and more than 230 crew hostage, including a British couple whose yacht was hijacked off the Seychelles. Meanwhile, it seems some Indian and Bangladeshi fishermen held by the pirates have gone on a hunger strike, protesting against the conditions in which they are being held. Read more: Reuters, BBC, Guardian
