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Las-Qoray, Somaliland, April
18, 2009 (SL Times) – Reports reaching us from eastern Somaliland
indicate that Puntland pirates are trying to establish a base in Sanag
region.
The pirates are currently holding a ship hostage about 10 km east of Las
Qoray, Sanag. The ship was captured a week ago.
Somaliland’s police forces have been in high alert and have so far
prevented the pirates from bringing the hostages ashore.
"Our ambassador in Somalia has confirmed the boats were captured off the
coast of Somaliland," Ahmad Rizk, deputy foreign minister for consular
affairs, told reporters on Monday.
Rizk was unable to say when the boats, with a combined crew of between
18 and 24 sailors, were captured, but said that the Egyptian foreign
ministry was investigating the incident.
Rizk earlier told state television that Egypt's ambassador in Somalia
said it was the first time boats were seized off the coast of
Somaliland, which is considered one of the safest coastlines in the
region.
Somali pirates have increased attacks in recent days despite the
presence of an international task force gathered to defend shipping in
what is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
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