The Danish warship Absalon, which is part of an international effort to stop piracy off East Africa, stopped two small pirate boats yesterday and confiscated all weapons on board. The Absalon became suspicious when it saw ladders on board, of the kind used to scale ships.

Two rubber boats were despatched to inspect the vessels while the Absalon's helicopter kept watch.

Those on board the vessels were registered and permitted to leave in one of the boats. The other small vessel capsized in heavy weather.

In a similar incident in September pirates were held on board the Absalon for six days, until Danish authorities concluded that they could not be brought before the courts in Denmark.