The Russian navy said Friday that it had sent a warship to Somalia's coast to protect Russian vessels in the country's waters, where pirates frequently capture ships for ransom. Russian nationals are often among the ships' crews.
"The Somali president has granted Russian warships permission to fight pirates in Somalia's territorial waters and on land," Ambassador Mohamed Handule said.
He said Russia had sent help to fight pirates on Somalia's request. "Russia is our traditional friend and we are asking Russia to send ships to the Somali coast not only to help fight piracy but also so that Russia can meet its strategic goals," the ambassador added.
Russia sent the Neustrashimy (Fearless) warship following the seizure of a Ukrainian ship off the Somali coast last week, but the Russian navy said the decision had been made long before that.
The Belize-registered Faina was carrying military equipment including 33 T-72 tanks, reportedly on their way to Kenya.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry earlier cited the ship's owner, Tomax Team Inc., as saying there were three Russians, 17 Ukrainians and one Latvian on board the Faina when it was seized. The ship's captain, Russian national Vladimir Kolobkov, died of a heart attack. The pirates are demanding $20 million for the release of the ship.
According to the Somali diplomat, the ships of more than 10 countries are currently anchored off Somalia.
Pirates are increasingly active in the waters off Somalia, which has no effective government and no navy to police its coastline. The International Maritime Bureau said more than 30 incidents of piracy were registered in the region in 2007. More than 30 attacks have been committed so far this year off the coast of the East African nation.
