UN anti-crime chief calls for vigilance with rising attacks by Somali pirates

Yury Fedotov, head of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), on Tuesday called on the international community to remain vigilant and work in partnership against a backdrop of increasing attacks by Somali pirates on commercial shipping.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here that "following a five-year lull, there has been a resurgence of attacks by Somali pirates on commercial shipping."

In the wake of three recent attacks, Fedotov called on the international community to be vigilant, work in close partnership, and hold the pirates accountable, the spokesman said.

"Large parts of the Somali coast remain beyond the reach of law enforcement authorities," he said.

"UNODC stressed that ships should continue to follow the advice of navies and the International Maritime Organization (IMO)," he said.

"UNODC continues to support both trials of piracy suspects in the region and the Somali maritime law enforcement agencies," Dujarric said. "Its Global Maritime Crime Program addresses all aspects of maritime crime, including terrorism, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling and hostage-taking." Enditem