Philippines chip hijacked off Somali coast

16/10/2008 14:14:21

Somali pirates have hijacked a Philippines-managed bulk carrier with 21 sailors aboard.

The International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting centre in Kuala Lumpur says the pirates boarded the ship in the Gulf of Aden.

The ship was sailing from the Middle East to Asia.

The Bureau says 73 ships have been attacked off Somalia since January.

11 are are still being held for ransom and more than 200 crew members.

The Philippines says it supports the development of a coalition of naval forces off Somalia, to prevent the hijacking of foreign vessels, many of which have Filipino crews.

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