Al Jazeera English - Africa - Nato joins Somalia piracy fight

Al Jazeera English - Africa - Nato joins Somalia piracy fight: "Nato joins Somalia piracy fight

The MV Faina was seized with heavy weaponry, including tanks, on board [AFP]

The Nato military alliance has agreed to join anti-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia amid growing calls for action against armed gangs which have attacked scores of vessels this year.

Seven vessels will be sent to the region, where negotiations are currently under way after one gang demanded an $8m ransom for a Ukrainian ship loaded with heavy weaponry.

'There will soon be Nato military vessels off the coast of Somalia, deterring piracy and escorting food ships,' James Appathura, Nato's chief spokesman, said on Thursday.

'Piracy is a serious problem for shipping in that area. It is also an immediate threat to the lives of the people in Somalia,' he said.

Nato said the seven frigates from a group that was to have taken part in an exercise in the Suez Canal region would arrive off the Somali coast within two weeks in response to a request from the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

The force, which currently consists of destroyers from Italy and the United States, frigates from Germany, Greece, Turkey and Britain and a German auxiliary vessel, will stay in the region until at least December.

Millions of dollars have been paid to the p"