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Russian navy seizes 29 pirates off Somalia: report

(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-04-29 09:52

MOSCOW – A Russian warship captured a suspected pirate vessel with 29 people on board off the coast of Somalia, Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday, citing defense ministry sources.

This photo provided by the US Navy shows Somali pirates off of Somalia's coast as seen in October 2008. A Russian naval destroyer on Tuesday seized 29 suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia, the defence ministry said, according to Russian news agencies. [Agencies]

Related readings:  Chinese navy rescues tanker hijacked by pirates  Pirates seize German ship near Somalia  Join hands to fight off pirates  NATO: Pirates take 7 Europeans, 3 Filipinos hostage

Russia's Admiral Panteleyev anti-submarine ship seized the vessel 15 miles off the coast of Somalia at 1212 GMT on Tuesday, the Interfax and RIA Novosti news agencies reported.

"Seven Kalashnikov rifles, various pistols and an aluminum ladder were discovered during a search of the ship," RIA Novosti quoted the source as saying. Satellite navigation equipment and a large amount of ammunition was also seized.

"This allows us to assume that this group of pirates undertook two unsuccessful attempts to seize the TF Commander tanker with a Russian crew that was traveling through this region yesterday," RIA quoted the source as saying.

Russia is among several naval powers with warships in the area to protect one of the world's busiest sea lanes from spate of hijackings by Somali pirates.