http://www.english.hadhramaut.info Yemen to question 12 Somali pirates [The Source: /www.sabanews.net - 19/05/2009] 12 Somali pirates who Yemen accuses of hijacking one of its cargo ships and the killing of one of the crew members who were onboard last month will be investigated soon. The Specialized Panel Prosecution received Tuesday the issue file from prosecutors in the Mukalla city from where the ship sailed towards the port city of Aden before it was seized late last month in the pirate-plagued Gulf of Aden, a judicial source said. On April 26, Yemen said Somali pirates were attempting to seize three of its ships in the Gulf and later confirmed pirates already hijacked a fourth one after attacks against the three were foiled. The National Coast Guard said the oil tanker, Qana, was seized empty after it unloaded oil at the Aden seaport. It was released next day when marine troops could retake over it and arrest pirates aboard. Two pirates were killed and 12 others arrested during the release operation, in which the police also said five crew members went missing. A Saudi ship rescued two of the missing five crew members later and a third one was rescued by a Yemeni boat. Days later, sailors in Aden said they found a body which the police identified as of one of the five crew members who went missing. And the fifth one is still missing. On April 19, the Yemeni authorities said a trial was set for 12 suspected Somali pirates who were arrested by international forces in 2008. Piracy off the coast of Somalia has recently soared threatening one of the world's busiest waterways where about 20.000 ships pass a year. About 100 vessels were attacked last year and many ships were seized so far this year. The surge prompted the world fear with some countries including those who have cargo ships passing through the sea route sending anti-pirate missions. Many pirates have been arrested by international troops patrolling the Indian Ocean as they foiled attacks against mostly cargo ships.