LOC19:16
16:16 GMT
CAIRO, Dec 25 (KUNA) -- A German warship cruising off the shores of Somalia
scrambled into action at sea when Somali pirates made a futile bid to
commandeer an Egyptian vessel in the sea waters early on Thursday.
Ambassador Ahmad Rezek, the assistant foreign minister, said in a statement
that the cargo ship, "Wadi Al-Arab," was targeted with an RPG but several
German gunboats cruising nearby, including the warship, "Carlsruhe,"
confronted the pirates and foiled their bid to take over the Egyptian ship.
The ship, with 30 Egyptian sailors and crew members on board, is now being
escorted by some German ships while sailing toward South Korea, he said.
The ship is carrying wheat loaded in the Ukraine. It will unloaded at a
South Korean port. (end)
nwr.rk
KUNA 251916 Dec 08NNNN