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bobdina
10-10-2009, 12:35 PM
French soldiers fire on pirates in Indian Ocean

PARIS (AP) -- French soldiers opened fire to chase off pirates who launched an attack Saturday on two fishing boats in the Indian Ocean, France's military said.

Soldiers stationed aboard two French tuna trawlers tried to warn the pirates away with flares and warning shots, but once the pirates used their weapons the French soldiers returned fire, said French military spokesman Rear Adm. Christophe Prazuck.

All those aboard the French boats were unharmed but it was not clear if any pirates were injured, he said.

France's government has been stationing military escorts on board French fishing boats off East Africa since July to protect them from pirates active in the region. Saturday was the first time soldiers used their weapons in such operations, Prazuck said.

The two tuna trawlers, the Drennec and Glenan, were heading toward Mahe, the largest island in the Seychelles, after a fishing trip. The pirates approached at sunrise, when they were about 300 kilometers (190 miles) north of the Seychelles.

Piracy in the Gulf of Aden soared as the rule of law crumbled in Somalia and organized criminal gangs ramped up the lucrative business of holding ships, their crews and cargos to ransom. After dozens of attacks last year, President Nicolas Sarkozy called for tougher action against pirates.

France is a key member of the EU's naval mission, Operation Atalanta, fighting Somali pirates in the area. It has aggressively tracked and caught suspected pirates and handed over at least 22 to Kenya. An additional 15 suspects were brought to France for prosecution after allegedly seizing boats belonging to French nationals.

France is the only nation to station military escorts aboard its fishing boats in the region. About 10 French fishing vessels are currently under protection, Prazuck said. Cable-laying ships have used French military protection as well.

Ships pay the price tag of such operations. While they don't pay soldiers' base salaries, they do pay for extras including airline tickets and hotels, Prazuck said.

Prazuck declined to give specifics about the number of soldiers stationed aboard such boats and their weapons, but he said they were equipped with firearms strong enough to give them an advantage over the pirates' arms of choice, Kalashnikov rifles and rocket-propelled grenades.