International piratjagt

Antallet af piratangreb er steget kraftigt i Østafrika. Blandt de danske ofre for de somaliske sørøvere er en dansk sejlerfamilie med to voksne og tre børn samt to gaster. De blev frigivet efter næsten et halvt års fangenskab.

• Følg jagten på Somalias pirater her
• Se opdateret kort over de seneste kapringer (Commercial Crime Services)

Denmark's Defence Minister Søren Gade (Lib) is to take the initiative to ask the United Nations to solve the problem of what to do with Somali pirates detained on the High Seas.

The move comes following the release during the night of 10 Somali pirates who had been detained on the High Seas on Sept. 17 by the Danish warship Absalon, but who could not be brought to court in Denmark.

"It's not certain that if we catch other pirates from another country tomorrow, that these too will be released," the minister says.

Danish law
The minister informed parliamentary parties today of the decision to release the ten pirates, saying that Danish law didnot allow for legal proceedings against the alleged Somali pirates before a Danish court.

At the same time, the minister told parties, the government explored the possibility of handing the pirates over to other countries in the international task force - or to Somalia or one of its neighbours.

This was not, however, possible due to Denmark's international responsibilities.

UN
As a result, the minister said, Denmark and the other countries of the Task Force 150 anti-pirate operation are to approach the United Nations to solve the problem and to enable pirates to be tried at an international court.

"This isn't the first time it's a problem and it is not the last time. Nor is it solely a Danish problem," the minister says.