LONDON - NATO plans to send a maritime mission to battle pirates off the coast of Somalia.
NATO said it would send its Standing Naval Maritime Group to the Somali coast in wake of piracy attacks around the Horn of Africa. The alliance said it had responded to a United Nations request in wake of the capture of a Ukranian ship loaded with T-72 main battle tanks in September 2008.
"There are still important details to work out, but the bottom line is there will soon be NATO military vessels off the coast of Somalia deterring piracy and escorting food shipments," NATO spokesman James Appathurai said.
"That is good news for the Somalis, and good news for international shipping."
In an Oct. 9 briefing, Appathurai said the NATO force would comprise of seven ships and would cooperate with the U.S. Navy. He said the Standing Naval Maritime Group would arrive off the Somali coast by Oct. 23. |
