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UN urged to tackle Somali pirates | UN urged to tackle Somali pirates |
(about 4 hours later) | |
France and the US have introduced a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that would allow states to arrest pirates in Somalia's waters. | France and the US have introduced a draft resolution at the UN Security Council that would allow states to arrest pirates in Somalia's waters. |
The document gives nations a six-month mandate to use "all necessary means" to fight piracy. | The document gives nations a six-month mandate to use "all necessary means" to fight piracy. |
But it says that countries taking such action should be co-operating with Somalia's embattled interim government. | But it says that countries taking such action should be co-operating with Somalia's embattled interim government. |
Piracy is a huge problem off Somalia's coast - there have been more than a dozen attack on ships this year. | Piracy is a huge problem off Somalia's coast - there have been more than a dozen attack on ships this year. |
In the latest incident, pirates last week seized a Spanish fishing boat with 26 crew members in the region. They later released the hostages for a reported ransom of $1.2m (£600,000). | In the latest incident, pirates last week seized a Spanish fishing boat with 26 crew members in the region. They later released the hostages for a reported ransom of $1.2m (£600,000). |
Earlier this month, six Somalis seized a French luxury yacht with a 30-strong crew. The hostages were later freed, and French commandos detained the attackers. | |
Legal issues | Legal issues |
The draft resolution - which was also co-sponsored by Britain and Panama - expresses deep alarm at the increase in acts of piracy that pose a grave threat "to the safety of commercial maritime routes and to international navigation" off Somalia. | The draft resolution - which was also co-sponsored by Britain and Panama - expresses deep alarm at the increase in acts of piracy that pose a grave threat "to the safety of commercial maritime routes and to international navigation" off Somalia. |
It authorises states to enter the country's territorial waters and "use all necessary means to identify, deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery". | It authorises states to enter the country's territorial waters and "use all necessary means to identify, deter, prevent and repress acts of piracy and armed robbery". |
This would include actions such as boarding, searching and also seizing ships engaged in piracy. | This would include actions such as boarding, searching and also seizing ships engaged in piracy. |
"The time has come for the Security Council to respond to the situation," US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. | "The time has come for the Security Council to respond to the situation," US Ambassador to the UN Zalmay Khalilzad told reporters at the UN headquarters in New York. |
"The government of Somalia is not in a position to deal with this problem by itself," he added. | "The government of Somalia is not in a position to deal with this problem by itself," he added. |
Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity. | Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity. |
In February, the Somali government itself asked for the UN Security Council's assistance in tackling piracy in the region. | In February, the Somali government itself asked for the UN Security Council's assistance in tackling piracy in the region. |
Diplomats declined to say when the document could be passed, saying there were complex legal issues involved, Reuters reported. | Diplomats declined to say when the document could be passed, saying there were complex legal issues involved, Reuters reported. |
France hopes to expand the same approach to other areas affected by piracy, like the coast of West Africa, the BBC's UN correspondent Laura Trevelyan says. | France hopes to expand the same approach to other areas affected by piracy, like the coast of West Africa, the BBC's UN correspondent Laura Trevelyan says. |
Meanwhile, Washington wants to keep the focus on Somalia for now, concerned that the Horn of Africa could become a haven for terrorist groups, she adds. | Meanwhile, Washington wants to keep the focus on Somalia for now, concerned that the Horn of Africa could become a haven for terrorist groups, she adds. |
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