New York: The UN Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution urging states to deploy naval vessels and military aircraft to actively join the fight against rampant piracy off the coast of lawless Somalia, reports AFP.
Resolution 1838 "calls upon all states interested in the security of maritime activities to take part actively in the fight against piracy on the high seas off the coast of Somalia, in particular by deploying naval vessels and military aircraft."
The French-drafted text urges states with naval vessels and military aircraft operating on the high seas and airspace off the Somali coast "to use the necessary means, in conformity with international law ... for the repression of acts of piracy."
David Cockroft, General Secretary of the ITF (intermational Transport Workers' Federation) commented: "We're delighted the Security Council has responded to our, the shipping industry and the IMO's direct appeal for this action. It is further support for those naval forces seeking to close with the pirates who have turned the Gulf into a war zone - and a reminder to those navies who haven't done so that it is now time to act." [07/10/08]
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