Africa News
Denmark adopts anti-piracy measures
May 25, 2011, 12:01 GMT
Copenhagen - Denmark adopted Wednesday a series of measures aimed at combating piracy, mainly off the coast of Somalia.
One of the planks in the government's strategy was a bilateral treaty with the Seychelles to make it possible for suspected pirates apprehended by Danish forces to be put on trial in the Indian Ocean nation.
'Putting pirates on trial is a key element in the fight against piracy off Somalia,' Foreign Minister Lene Espersen said. 'It means that pirates can be brought to justice - and not only halted.'
The strategy included military and political components, as well as legal measures.
Defence Minister Gitte Lillelund Bech noted it included strengthening capacity in the region near the Horn of Africa to play a greater part in anti-piracy patrols.
Several Danish vessels have been targeted by pirates, and earlier this year Copenhagen urged recreational sailors to avoid the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the north-western section of the Indian Ocean due to the piracy danger.
The warning was issued after a Danish family of five and two adults were kidnapped off the Somali coast.
Denmark is one of the countries that has contributed naval forces patrolling the sea lanes off Somalia.
Read more about Denmark
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