Navy battles 14 boats which tried to seize Yemeni tanker
The Source: /www.sabanews.net - 22/07/2009
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emeni marine troops have foiled an attempted pirate attack, the fiercest ever, on a Yemeni oil tanker when 14 pirate boats approached the tanker
in the Red Sea seeking to take over it.The tanker, Yemen Oil 7, was en route from the southern Aden port to the western Hodeidah port when pirates attacked it on Tuesday noon, the state-run 26sep.net citing sources at the navy reported.The marines surrounded the pirates and clashed with them forcing them to flee out of Yemeni regional waters.The tanker continued its voyage safely, with Yemeni marines broadening their combing to foil other possible attacks by notorious Somali pirates.Early this month, marine forces thwarted three attempted pirate attacks against Yemeni oil tankers in the Red Sea.In April, three Somali pirates were killed and 12 others seized after Yemeni marine forces rescued oil tankers which were attacked off the pirate-plagued Gulf of Aden.Yemen has received a number of pirates who were arrested by international forces patrolling the Indian Ocean on anti-piracy mission. Some have gone on trials.Last week, 22 African people appeared in a Yemeni court, facing piracy charges.Pirates have recently stepped up their attacks off Somalia attacking more than 150 ships during the last few years. More than 40 vessels were already arrested along with crews onboard. Pirates usually demand ransoms, millions of dollars, to free what they seize. Many world countries have recently expressed their concern about soaring piracy off Somalia, sending anti-piracy taskforces to the region.
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