'Arabs must combat sea piracy'
2008-11-01 16:12
Cairo - The Egyptian Foreign Ministry says Arab countries bordering the Red Sea must meet to coordinate anti-piracy efforts.
In a statement, the Foreign Ministry says, while piracy occurs mainly near the Gulf of Aden, all Arab nations with a Red Sea coast feel the economic and security repercussions.
Countries invited include Yemen, Eritrea and Jordan.
The Gulf of Aden connects the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean.
It is one of the world's busiest waterways with some 20 000 ships passing through it each year.
It has witnessed a new outbreak of piracy mainly since Somalia, caught up in an Islamic insurgency, has no functioning government, no navy and no coast guard to police its coasts.
- AP