Egypt forms working group on pirate threat

CAIRO, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The growing threat of piracy off the coast of Somalia has prompted Egypt to form a working group with top authorities to address the lawlessness.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit said Tuesday that the surge in violent piracy off the Somali coast is threatening not only international shipping routes but also regional security, the Egyptian government reported.

Abul-Gheit announced the formation of a working group at the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to "develop a vision of how to deal with the phenomenon of piracy off the Somali coast," the release said.

The sharp increase in piracy hijackings off the coast of Somalia has drawn considerable attention recently after a Ukrainian ship carrying military tanks bound for Kenya was hijacked by pirates and held for a ransom of $20 million.

Despite the Combined Task Force 150, a multinational coalition of navies patrolling the region, pirates have had considerable success.

Egypt has called the situation a "global problem (that) must be tackled internationally," the release said.