Hundreds of residents of Adado in the Galgadud region of Somalia took to the streets this week to voice their support for the fight against piracy and to encourage pirates to give up the practice, UN-funded Radio Bar-Kulan reported Monday (January 14th).

One of Somalia's most notorious pirate leaders, known as "Big Mouth", said he is retiring after years of terrorising the Indian Ocean, generating millions of dollars in ransoms from seized ships.

Local administration and civil society groups organised the demonstration, which follows the retirement of pirate kingpin Mohamed Abdi Hassan last week. More than 100 pirates followed Hassan's example, the news agency reported.

The demonstration clearly indicates that people are ready to see an end to piracy, said area District Commissioner Ahmed Salah Ibrahim.