Pirates seize French vessel
2008-09-03 17:36
Nairobi - Somalia pirates have seized a French vessel that may be carrying tourists off the coast of East Africa, a maritime official said on Wednesday.
"We don't have details but it seems there are some tourists on board," Andrew Mwangura, head of the East Africa Seafarers' Assistance Programme, told Reuters. "It is from France but we don't know whether it is a yacht or cruise ship."
Somali gunmen have seized at least 30 vessels so far this year, making the water off the Horn of Africa country the most dangerous in the world.
The European Union is preparing a mechanism to help co-ordinate protection of vessels from the pirates and is considering a beefed up operation at a later stage, diplomats said on Tuesday.