The United States calls on its international partners to step up efforts in the fight against Somali pirates in the wake of an attack on a private yacht, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State said.
On the night of February 18, pirates seized the S/V Quest yacht off the coast of Oman. The yacht was en route from India and belonged to U.S. pensioners Gene and Scott Adams, who were on a circumnavigation. Gunshots were fired in the course of the negotiations on the ransom. The bodies of four dead hostages were later discovered on board of the yacht.
"We are shocked and saddened by this loss of life, and we do recognize that other countries have lost citizens in the past year, and past years as well... Other countries need to step up. If your flagged vessel is attacked, you should be prepared to prosecute the pirates as a result. If your citizens are injured or killed, you should be prepared to prosecute, because it's in your national interest to do so," spokesman Philip Crowley said.
WASHINGTON, February 25 (RIA Novosti)
