Ethiopian Review

Addis Ababa – Australia would send a warship and surveillance planes to combat pirates in waters off Somalia, Xinhuna reported quoting Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as having said.

Rudd said piracy was a threat to the economic interests of Australia and the rest of the world. “That problem is indiscriminate in terms of who it is hitting,” Rudd told reporters in the north Australian city of Darwin.

“Ships of all nationalities, cargo ships, passenger ships, sometimes involving Australians…this affects all of our economic interests,” Australian Associated Press quoted Rudd as saying.

An Australian navy frigate, HMAS Warramunga, currently patrolling the Persian Gulf, will be attached periodically to a new international taskforce established to combat pirate activity in shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia.

Also assisting will be an Australian air force AP-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, one of three based in the Persian Gulf.

“We believe it’s part of Australia putting its shoulder to the wheel, together with our friends, our partners, our allies to make a material difference to security in the region,” he said.

- WIC