Sunday, April 19, 2009
Speaking at the end of a Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, Harper congratulated the personnel on the HMCS Winnipeg that, along with a British vessel also conducting NATO patrols of the pirate-infested zone, foiled the attack.
The Winnipeg crew was doing "tremendous work" in the Gulf of Aden he told reporters.
Their frigate pursued the pirate ship for seven hours after the British vessel scared it away from the 80,000-ton tanker on Saturday.
The pirates were finally caught early Sunday after throwing their weapons overboard, NATO officials said. After being questioned, they were released because they were outside Canada's jurisdiction and NATO has no mandate to make arrests.
"We obviously act within our legal authority and also within our capacities," Harper said.
"As you know we did briefly detain pirates and disarm them and I think those were appropriate measures under the circumstances. Obviously Canada uses force but only when necessary."
Source: AFP, April 19, 2009