Russia warship heads to Africa after pirate attack
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A Russian warship on Friday rushed to intercept a Ukrainian vessel carrying 33 battle tanks and a hoard of ammunition that was seized by pirates off the Horn of Africa - a bold hijacking that again heightened fears about surging piracy and high-seas terrorism.
US naval ships also were in the area Friday and "monitoring the situation," but there has been no decision about intercepting the vessel. A US Defense Department official said Washington was concerned about the attack.
It was unclear whether the pirates who seized the 162-meter-long cargo ship Faina on Thursday knew what it carried. Still, analysts said it would be extremely difficult to sell such high-profile weaponry like Russian tanks.
Ukrainian officials and an anti-piracy watchdog said 21 crew members were aboard the seized ship, including three Russians. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko ordered unspecified measures to free the crew, but it was unclear whether any of the former Soviet republic's naval vessels had been dispatched.
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