Four more ships hijacked by pirates

MOMBASA, Kenya, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- Pirates have hijacked four more ships off the coast of Somalia, maritime officials say, bringing the number of ships now being held to 19.

Andrew Mwangura of the Kenyan Seafarers Association told CNN Wednesday that gunmen had hijacked an Indonesian tug boat, a Chinese fishing vessel, the cargo ship MV Bosphorus Prodigy and a yacht.

Mwangura told the U.S. broadcaster the Indonesian tug was commandeered in the Gulf of Aden while heading to Malaysia. He said no other information was immediately available on the other vessels.

CNN said the latest hijackings make for 19 vessels with at least 383 crew members now being held by Somali pirates.