U.S. Navy ship captures suspected pirates

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- Seven suspected pirates have been captured in the Gulf of Aden by U.S. naval forces responding to a distress call from a nearby merchant vessel.

On Wednesday afternoon, the crew of the Marshall Islands-flagged ship Polaris sent a distress call to all ships in the area reporting that a small skiff manned by seven suspected pirates had attempted a forcible boarding of their vessel using a ladder.

A Navy statement said the guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf responded to the call.

The suspected pirates were being held aboard the Vella Gulf until they could be transferred to a temporary holding facility aboard the supply ship USNS Lewis and Clark.