EU naval forces thwart Somali pirates

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Jan. 2 (UPI) -- European Union naval forces turned back Somali pirates trying to hijack a Greek oil tanker off the Somali coast Friday, the Greek government said.

The Greek merchant marine ministry said pirates in speedboats abandoned their attempts to board the tanker when naval forces approached, the BBC reported.

France's navy reported one of its ships Thursday seized two suspected pirate boats and was holding eight suspects.

The International Maritime Bureau says increased naval patrols have sharply reduced the number of pirate attacks.

The maritime bureau said only two ships were captured by pirates in December, the British broadcaster reported. However, the agency said Somali pirates still hold about 15 ships with more than 200 crew members.

The maritime organization said more than 100 pirate attacks occurred in 2008 in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.

The EU anti-piracy task force was established in December and includes naval forces from countries such as India, Iran, the United States and China patrolling off the coast of Somalia.