- Armed Somali pirates off the Gulf of Aden have seized the second freighter in the early hours today, NATO's Maritime Component Command Headquarters in Northwood, England has confirmed. The latest hijacking of Lebanese-owned vessel has put the toll at four in less than two days.
The two hijackings Tuesday follow the killing by US Navy SEAL of three pirates who were holding an American ship captain hostage.
Maritime officials said pirates on four skiffs seized the 5,000-ton MV Sea Horse, a Lebanese-owned vessel.
Earlier today, pirates hijacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier, the MV Irene, in the Gulf of Aden. The crew of the Greek carrier was thought to be unhurt, and ships have been warned to stay clear of the area for fear of further attacks, the security center said.
NATO officials said another ship, the Liberian-flagged Safmarine Asia narrowly escaped on Tuesday after coming under fire from pirates in several small boats.
Local reports said a NATO helicopter has been dispatched from a Canadian warship to investigate what is happening to the merchant vessel, flagged in Saint-Vincent and the Grenadines.
NATO has an ongoing anti-piracy mission off Somalia called Operation Allied Protector. The mission involves four ships covering more than 1 million square miles.
A US led international naval task force, Combined Task Force-151, also is patrolling in the region.
Armed pirates attacked the US flagged Maersk Alabama last week seizing its captain, Richard Phillips, and held him hostage on a lifeboat after their attempt to hijack the ship failed.
Piracy is rife in the Horn of Africa state which has been without an effective government since 1991.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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