Puntland 'to assist' NATO anti-piracy mission

[sheekh-Farax-zero]

NATO has established a working relationship with authorities in Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland in an attempt to uproot piracy off the Horn of Africa.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), has identified the move as a measure to target pirates active around the northern territories of Somalia and to help avoid possible clashes with 'honest fishermen.'

"Identifying areas from where pirates may launch their operations is one way to curtail this illegal activity. Once the pirate are at sea in their small skiffs they are difficult to identify from honest fisherman, although working closely with our allies, it has been possible to develop a profile on who they are," the international military alliance headquartered in Brussels, Belgium, said in a statement.

The statement adds that a number of Puntland coastguards in northern Somalia territories have joined two NATO warships, part of alliance's anti-piracy mission in the region that seeks to eliminate the threat of more attacks by sea bandits pestering trade ships in one of the world's business waterways.

"Working with Somali authorities in support of their own resolve to rid their shores of this scourge has shown early signs of success," A Press TV correspondent quoted the statement as saying on Friday.

NATO has recently warned of an increase in piracy around the Gulf of Aden and other coastal regions of the lawless state once the monsoon conditions ease off.

Somali pirates have carried out more than 114 attempted attacks on sea liners since the beginning of 2008, 29 of which ended in the hijacking of the targeted vessels.

Somalia-based pirates have so far obtained millions of dollars in ransom from shipping firms. The bandits claim that they need the money to pay out their tribal expense, while some reports allege that the fortune is amassed to fund anti-government campaigns.

GHN/ZH