Rival Somali pirates, militias fight for custody of British couple, say commander, elder

Rival Somali groups fight over British couple

US Navy: American cargo vessel escapes pirate attack off East African coast

US Navy: American cargo ship evades pirate attack

EU force: Suspected Somali pirates exchange fire with Norwegian navy off African coast

Suspected Somali pirates clash with Norwegian navy

Pirates demanding $7M for UK couple, say Western forces ‘loot’ natural fishing resources

Somali pirates: Western boats ‘loot’ Somali fish

Somali pirates demand $7 mn ransom for British couple

LONDON/NAIROBI - Somali pirates issued a $7 million ransom demand Saturday for a British couple, kidnapped over a week ago in the Indian Ocean from their yacht.

2 Somalis arrested on suspicion of Spanish trawler hijack arrive in Madrid

MADRID — The Defense Ministry says two Somalis arrested for allegedly taking part in the hijacking of a Spanish trawler have been brought to Madrid and placed in custody.

11 suspected pirates captured after attack on French fishing boats

PARIS — French soldiers successfully defended two fishing boats from capture by pirates in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, and 11 men suspected of involvement in the failed attack were pursued at sea and captured, officials said.

Seychelles coast guard captures 11 pirates suspected in attack on French fishing boats

PARIS — A NATO spokeswoman says 11 suspected pirates have been captured after a foiled attack on French fishing ships in the Indian Ocean.

French soldiers fire on pirate ships in Indian Ocean to protect fishing boats

PARIS — Pirates attacked two fishing boats in the Indian Ocean on Saturday, but French soldiers protecting the trawlers returned fire and forced the assailants to flee, France’s military said.

Swiss lawmakers reject sending troops against Somali pirates, as neutrality concerns too great

GENEVA — Switzerland will not join the European Union’s anti-piracy efforts, lawmakers decided Thursday amid concern that participating in the mission off Somalia could violate the Alpine nation’s long-standing neutrality.

Yemen suffers turmoil on multiple fronts

Yemen is beset by wars, unrest and piracy. Here are the main troubles it faces:

US signing anti-piracy agreement at UN to help lead protection of vessels off Somalia

UNITED NATIONS — The United States and four other nations signed onto an international plan to fight piracy off the coast of Somalia, committing Wednesday to playing a leadership role in protecting one of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

New laser gun to dazzle Somali pirates

LONDON - A British defence manufacturer has designed a laser gun that can be used to dazzle pirates, leaving them incapacitated, thus becoming the perfect weapon to fight Somali pirates.

Philippine president warns of surge in pirate attacks, offers training for Somali coast guard

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine president offered her country’s help in training the Somali coast guard, saying Tuesday she fears another surge in pirate attacks off Somalia that have targeted ships with hundreds of Filipino crew.

Pak involvement seen in Russian warship hijack

MOSCOW/ISLAMABAD - Investigations into the hijacking of a Russian warship in April by Somali pirates show that Pakistani nationals played an important role in the hijack.

Egyptian fishing boat owner arrives in Cairo after orchestrating men’s release from pirates

CAIRO — The owner of an Egyptian fishing vessel whose crew overpowered pirates off the Somali coast received a hero’s welcome at the Cairo Airport Tuesday after flying home from Yemen.

French government wants to charge tourists who need to be rescued from dangerous countries

PARIS — French tourists heading to risky foreign destinations could be asked to foot the bill if the French government comes to their rescue.

Freed German ship arrives in Kenya port after being freed by Somali pirates

MOMBASA, Kenya —A German freighter released by Somali pirates after nearly four months arrived Saturday in the Kenya port of Mombasa with the 24-member crew “exhausted” but in good condition.

Somalia president says meeting with top US diplomat a “golden chance” for his war-torn nation

MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s president on Tuesday described his upcoming meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton as a “golden chance” for his war-torn country.

Official: Somali pirates receive ransom to release German vessel

NAIROBI, Kenya — A European Union naval spokesman says Somali pirates have received a ransom to release a German vessel they have been holding for more than three months.

Secretary of State Clinton to pledge new aid to Somalia during seven-nation African tour

WASHINGTON — On a seven-nation tour of Africa this week, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will pledge more U.S. assistance, including military aid, to Somalia’s shaky government as it fights for survival against Islamist extremists.

Southern and eastern Africa gets hooked to India

ADDIS ABABA - A long-expected fibre-optic cable linking southern and eastern Africa to global telecommunications networks via India and Europe has gone live with high expectations it will lower the cost of telecommunications in Africa. Its switch-on date was delayed for a month after threats by Somali pirates along the Indian Ocean route from India to Kenya disrupted cable installation plans.

EU anti-piracy force to move some planes south to counter spread of Somali pirates

NAIROBI, Kenya — The European Union’s anti-piracy force will move some surveillance aircraft further south from the Gulf of Aden to help counter the spread of Somali pirates into Indian Ocean waters, the force’s operation commander said.

NATO, Russia consider ways to increase cooperation in anti-piracy, Afghanistan campaigns

BRUSSELS — Diplomats from NATO and Russia met on Wednesday to discuss ways of cooperating in the battle against pirates off Somalia and supplying alliance forces fighting in Afghanistan.

Somali pirates seize Turkish ship in Gulf of Aden; Turkish warship races to area

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates seized a Turkish ship with 23 crew on Wednesday and are being shadowed by a Turkish warship in the Gulf of Aden, a shipping official and NATO spokesman said.

Somali attacks are public face of piracy; out of the spotlight, crimes at sea are widespread

ISTANBUL — While Somali pirates top headlines with brazen ship hijackings for ransom, many smaller-scale attacks in the world’s oceans — maritime muggings, essentially — go unreported, depriving mariners of information about possible threats to their safety and vessels.

Belgium: Somali pirates release ship’s crew

BRUSSELS — Somali pirates have released the entire crew of a Belgian ship kidnapped two months ago, Belgium’s government said Sunday.

More shipping companies hiring “shipriders” against Somali pirates _ but legal issues abound

NAIROBI, Kenya — There’s not a warship for miles, a small pirate skiff is speeding toward you and there’s no way the creaking tub you’re on can outrun the bandits. How long do you wait before you shoot?

Gates praises Pacific Rim nations for anti-piracy efforts; could be model for Horn of Africa

MANILA, Philippines — The Pentagon chief is praising Pacific Rim nations as a model for anti-piracy crackdowns off the Horn of Africa.

Somali pirates seize Dutch ship in Gulf of Aden; US military ship evades pirate attack

NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates captured a Dutch ship in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday and a U.S. military supply ship evaded an armed attack by pirates in the same region, one of the world’s busiest and most dangerous waterways.