Sunday, September 14, 2008
The boat suffered some damage but no one was hurt and it was able to get away after the attack, which occurred during the night, the ministry said in a statement.
French and Spanish tropical tuna fishing boats present in the area have all gone back to port in the Seychelles because of the insecurity, the ministry said.
Minister Michel Barnier requested an urgent meeting with his defence and foreign affairs counterparts to examine what measures could be taken to help protect boats sailing in international waters in the Indian Ocean.
Barnier called for solutions at European Union level during the French presidency of the bloc, which lasts until the end of this year, to protect a fleet of 55 European boats that fish in the area, according to the statement.
Heavily-armed Somali gunmen, usually using speedboats, have seized more than 30 vessels in total so far this year, making the waters off the Horn of Africa the most dangerous in the world.
A French yacht was captured on Sept. 3 and two French people are still being held hostage. Earlier this year, a French yacht with 30 crew aboard was seized and held for a week. French commandos captured six pirates after the hostages were freed. (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; editing by Keith Weir)
Source: Reuters, Sept 14, 2008