Somali Targets to ‘Wipe Out’ Piracy By 2011

Somali’s Prime Minister is optimistic that by 2011 his government will have curbed the piracy problem.

Mr. Omar Sharmarke who was on a visit to the UK attributed the piracy problem to the shortage of resources that would help in tackling the problem.

He assured the BBC World Service that his government was doing everything they could to rescue the British couple which was hijacked by pirates days ago.

Mr. Sharmarke intends to tackle this issue through a civil affairs and information campaign, backed by military force.
"We have to understand that the cost of doing nothing is far greater than the cost of doing something," Mr. Sharmarke told BBC

Piracy has been a major problem off the Somali coast since early 1990s. It has contributed to an increase in shipping costs and impeded the delivery of food aid shipments. Currently at least seven vessels are being held with about 179 crew members. [CK]