Africa News
Denmark extends mission for naval vessel off Somalia
Mar 9, 2011, 15:58 GMT
Copenhagen - A Danish naval vessel was to continue its anti-piracy mission off the coast of Somalia for a further three months, the foreign affairs committee said Wednesday.
Denmark is one of the countries that has contributed naval forces patrolling the sea lanes off Somalia.
Several Danish vessels have been targeted by pirates and last week Denmark urged recreational sailors to avoid the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the north-western section of the Indian Ocean due to the risk of pirates.
The warning to recreational sailors was issued after pirates last month kidnapped a Danish family sailing on a yacht off the Somali coast.
The family of five and two other adults were on a world tour, having set off from Denmark in August 2009.
The Danish ministers for foreign affairs, defence, justice and economics have meanwhile agreed to work on a long-term strategy to combat piracy.
The strategy would include investigating if Danish merchant vessels plying waters where piracy is rife could be allowed to deploy armed guards, which Danish shipowners have called for.
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