Somalia wants warships to tackle pirates

Somalia’s prime minister today called on neighbouring countries to send warships to patrol his nation’s waters after a third cargo vessel delivering food aid was seized by pirates.

Prime Minister Ali Mohamed Gedi said his government – which has yet to take control of the lawless country – does not have the resources to protect shipping along Somalia’s coast.

Yesterday a third vessel carrying food to aid to Somalia was hijacked. The whereabouts of the vessel are not known.

Gedi said he would call for a meeting of every country that has an interest in securing Somalia’s shipping lanes to organise an interim force to protect Somalia’s waters.