SOMALIAN pirates, preying on shipping in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, should be attacked from the landside, according to Somali Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Sharmarke.

Mr Shamarke requested assistance in attacking the two main pirate networks through the deployment of information-sharing centres to learn how the pirates operate and with more analysis on cash flow in the collection and spending of ransom money.

The UN's International Maritime organisation expressed support in assisting Somalia to suppress piracy during a London meeting with the prime minister and his Planning Minister Abdirahman Abdishukur Warsame and Communications Minister Abdirizak Osman Hassan.

The IMO statement stressed the importance of the effective implementation of the Code of Conduct of which Somalia is one of the countries to sign concerning the Repression of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden, adopted in Djibouti in January to enhance co-operation among signatory states in prosecuting pirates.

The code also covers the arrest and seizure of suspect ships and property on board such ships, the rescue of ships, persons and property subject to acts of piracy and armed robbery and the conduct of shared operations.

(Source: www.schednet.com))