From: Yemane Natnael (yemane_natnael@yahoo.com)
Date: Sun Oct 26 2008 - 20:52:43 EST
Russian warship en route for anti-piracy mission off Somalia
MOSCOW, October 26 (RIA Novosti) - A missile frigate from Russia's
Baltic Fleet arrived at the port of Aden in Yemen on its way to join an
international naval group fighting piracy off the coast of Somalia, the
Russian Navy said.
"After water and food replenishments, the warship will carry out
measures to protect shipping in the coastal waters of Somalia where sea
pirates are active. In particular, the Neustrashimy frigate may escort
passenger and merchant vessels," the Russian Navy said, adding that the
warship had the right to use force, including weapons, against pirates.
The Neustrashimy (Fearless) frigate is to join an international naval
group, which has surrounded a Ukrainian ship, the MV Faina, after it
was seized by Somali pirates on September 25. The Faina, which was
carrying tanks and heavy weapons, has a crew of 17 Ukrainian nationals,
two Russians, and one Lithuanian on board.
The Faina's Russian captain died of a heart attack after the vessel was
seized. The pirates holding the ship have demanded an $8 million
ransom, and have threatened to kill the hostages if a military
operation is launched against them.
The Neustrashimy's armament includes SS-N-25 Switchblade anti-ship
missiles, SA-N-9 Gauntlet SAM, a 100-mm gun, torpedoes and depth
charges. The frigate also carries a Ka-27 ASW helicopter.
Pirates are increasingly active in the waters off Somalia, which has no
effective government and no navy to police its coastline. Somali
pirates have seized around 30 ships so far this year off the coast of
the east African nation.
http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081026/117955157.html
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