TWO OIL TANKERS ESCAPE PIRATE ATTACKS OFF YEMEN

ADEN, April 26 (Saba) - Two Yemeni oil tankers have escaped separate
pirate attacks in the pirate-plagued Gulf of Aden, informed sources
told the September website.

The sources said that security teams on the two tankers clashed with
Somali pirates but no casualties were reported.

First, the pirates intercepted the tanker Almasila early on Sunday
morning but its security forced them to run away.

While they were back from their failed raid the pirates, who were on
two boats, met with another tanker, Zuail, and tried to take over it
but the security exchanged fire with them. The tankers then
continued their trips safely.

In recent years, piracy has soared off Somalia, triggering thousands
of international troops being dispatched into the region.

The anti-piracy missions, however, are killing and injuring Yemeni
fishermen as well as seizing and destroying their boats.

Yemen has recently demanded compensations for attacked boats from
the countries whose naval ships are patrolling the region and
discussed with the countries effective mechanisms to prevent further
attacks against its people.

According to some independent estimates, more than 114 Yemeni
fishermen have been killed and injured in such incidents in the Red
and Arab Seas.

FR