Traveling-Sage

sold en bloc with Giannutri 54 million USd to Greek buyer

Nine Somalis will be tried in Italy’s first international piracy trial on charges they attacked an Italian cargo vessel off Somalia, a court ordered Monday. Four minors and five adults will stand trial March 23 on charges of piracy, weapons possession and damages incurred when they allegedly laid siege to the Italian cargo vessel, Montecristo off Somalia in October, the Italian news agency ANSA reported. The accused surrendered to U.S. and British troops working under NATO’s Ocean Shield, CNN reported. The multinational crew had thrown overboard a message in a bottle and put up a cardboard sign letting potential rescuers know they were hiding in the engine room awaiting help. http://outcomemag.com/top_news/2012/02/20/italy-to-try-accused-somali-pirates/

U.S. and British naval forces freed the crew of a hijacked Italian cargo ship in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday and captured 11 pirates in a notable success against Somali gangs who cost the world economy billions of dollars each year, MSNBC reports. The freeing of the 55,675-ton bulk carrier Montecristo was announced by Italian officials and a British defense spokesman, who said the rescue was carried out by an American frigate and a Royal Navy support vessel. Contrary to initial Italian reports that special forces stormed the vessel, the British spokesman said the pirates surrendered without resistance when the warships reached the Montecristo. A Royal Navy team then boarded it unopposed. More at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44861180/ns/world_news-africa/#.TpSHlvr-e9U