Saturday, April 10, 2010
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Portugal's Supreme National Defense Council on Friday decided to send a plane and some troops to the Indian Ocean to participate in the EU's piracy-combat mission there.In a communique released after a special meeting, the Council said it is sending a sea-patrol aircraft and 42 troops to fight the Somali pirates.
The Portuguese mission will last four months at most, the Council said.
Last year a frigate from the Portuguese navy joined the EU to fight pirates off the Somali Sea.
With the monsoon season over, the pirates are back prowling the Indian Ocean and the strategically vital Gulf of Aden shipping route.
In March alone pirates hijacked nine vessels and made 17 unsuccessful attacks on other vessels.
Source: Xinhua