Somalia: U.S. Crew Seized by Pirates in Hijacking

8 April 2009
allAfrica.com

Somali pirates off the coast of East Africa have hijacked a ship with 21 American crew on board.

The Maersk Alabama, a Danish-owned container ship flying under the U.S. flag, is carrying "general cargo," said Mark Stoggard, a spokesman for the Danish Maersk Group, in an interview with CNN.

The Alabama is the sixth ship to be hijacked in a recent upsurge in piracy in the region.

According to the the Maritime Security Center, the 17,525 tonne ship was seized in the Indian ocean about 645 kilometers east of the Somali capital, Mogadishu on Wednesday. Agencies report that the ship's crew is safe.

In March, Kenya detained seven alleged Somali pirates in accordance with a recent memorandum of understanding with the United States regarding the capture and prosecution of pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden.

United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, has stated that piracy will cease only once peace prevails in the Horn of Africa.

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