More Piracy Near Somalia

[davidbfpo]

The BBC reports a Basque trawler 400kms off Somalia has been captured by pirates and is heading towards Somalia: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7357831.stm

Now what will Spain do? Not sure if they contribute to the naval task force in the region.

davidbfpo

[Stan]

Certainly didn't take long for the pirates to regroup, although seems they've lowered their standards a bit. There's gonna be a real handsome reward for the tuna boat and the release of the 13 African crew members

[Stan]

Hey David !

Now what will Spain do? Not sure if they contribute to the naval task force in the region.

davidbfpo

Don't look now, but a Spanish Naval Frigate is a headin' for Somalia

Spain in hostage hunt off Somalia
The captain of the trawler - contacted by Spanish radio - said the crew were "all well". The Somali pirates have demanded a ransom.

"The defence ministry has instructed one of its ships which is nearby to head immediately to the area of the incident," the foreign ministry's statement said.
A Spanish military frigate that was in the Red Sea was heading towards the area where the fishing boat was seized, a government source said.
The defence ministry has also been in contact with military officials of nations with a military presence in the area to request "logistics support and help in locating the affected boat, the statement added.

[davidbfpo]

Stan,

One wonders if the new Spanish cabinet with its majority of female ministers, one being defence minister, has made a difference. I doubt if rescuing a trawler was on her list of things to achieve.

davidbfpo

[Stan]

Stan,

One wonders if the new Spanish cabinet with its majority of female ministers, one being defence minister, has made a difference. I doubt if rescuing a trawler was on her list of things to achieve.

davidbfpo

Good points, David ! Well, she is just slightly pregnant, but then, managed a trip to Afghanistan !

Kinda wondering where that Naval Frigate is... should've caught up with a tuna boat by now.


Spain seeks NATO, US help in hostage crisis

The defence ministry said a Spanish military frigate was heading to the area off east Africa, where the pirates have demanded money for the release of the crew, a day after storming the vessel armed with grenade launchers.

It said the ship would arrive in 24 to 36 hours. Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega chaired a meeting of senior cabinet members, including Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and Defence Minister Carme Chacon, to discuss the crisis.

“We have sought the help of France and the United States,” two countries with a military presence in the area, a Spanish government spokesman said.