Adhari purnawan, solo wonogiri Indonesia Somali PM: Anti-pirate patrols not working * Story Highlights * Somali PM: International naval vessels are not solving the problem * Says U.N. arms embargo stops it "fighting back" against pirates, militants * Brussels meeting aimed at supporting Somalia's security through more funding * Secretary-General rules out U.N. peacekeepers being sent to Somalia * Next Article in World » * Read * VIDEO * MAP
Decrease font Decrease font Enlarge font Enlarge font (CNN) -- Somalia's prime minister told CNN Thursday that the international naval patrols in the Gulf of Aden are not solving the problem of piracy in the region. Somalia's prime minister says the international naval patrols are having little effect on the piracy problem. Somalia's prime minister says the international naval patrols are having little effect on the piracy problem. Prime Minister Omar Abdirashid Ali Sharmarke pointed to the recent increase in pirate attacks as evidence, and called for the U.N. arms embargo on Somalia to be lifted so the government can fight back against the pirates and local militant Islamist groups.
"One of our biggest problems is that al-Shabaab has AK-47s, and the pirates have AK-47s, and the government has AK-47s," the prime minister told CNN's David McKenzie in Nairobi, Kenya. "You can't expect the government to win against such a problem. The only way is to have sufficient capability, and it starts with lifting the arms embargo. You know, we have been handicapped by those sanctions." Video Watch more from Somalia's PM » The arms embargo on Somalia has been in effect for more than 16 years. Most serviceable weapons and almost all ammunition currently available in the country have been delivered since 1992, in violation of the embargo, according to the U.N. Security Council. Pirate attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden and off Somalia's east coast accounted for 61 of the 102 attacks during the first quarter. That compares to six incidents for the same period in 2008, the IMB said. See map of attacks » The European Union and several nations, including the United States, have naval forces in the region to protect vessels against pirate attacks. The head of EU naval forces in the waters off Somalia said he believes navies can defeat pirates on the high seas, but ultimately restoring long-term stability to Somalia will be what stops the attacks. Don't Miss * Aid groups: Humanitarian crisis leads to piracy * Pirates attack U.S. cargo ship but fail to get aboard * Pentagon looks to move battle against pirates ashore * Alleged Maersk pirate arrives in New York Still, Rear-Admiral Philip Jones told CNN, "It'll be a long period of time before that's successful, and we must be ready to secure the seas until that's in place." Meanwhile, international leaders gathered Thursday for a one-day meeting aimed at boosting security in Somalia to halt the growing piracy problem in the region. The conference in Brussels, Belgium, is aimed at supporting Somalia's security and stability through more funding. Organized by the EU, it also includes leaders of the United Nations and African Union. "Assisting Somalia's new government to establish increased security and stability across the country is critical for tackling the root causes of piracy," the EU said in a statement about the meeting. "Recent events show that piracy is increasingly putting in jeopardy the security of ships in the Gulf of Aden and in the wider maritime region."
A dramatic increase in activity by Somali pirates led to a near-doubling in the number of pirate attacks in the first quarter of 2009, according to figures released this week by the International Maritime Bureau, which issues regular reports on piracy worldwide. U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who is attending the conference, indicated Wednesday he is not ready to send in U.N. troops to Somalia. He recommended instead a phased approach to restoring security. The idea of a U.N. peacekeeping force is "divisive," Ban said, and "could exacerbate the conflict if pursued too soon." Instead, Ban recommended supporting the existing African Union force in Somalia, helping to build Somalia's own security institutions, and supporting political reconciliation in the country. If that step works, the U.N. would open a political office in Somalia to support the country's political process, Ban said. Then, if the U.N. presence succeeds, the U.N. Security Council could decide on a U.N. peacekeeping operation to take over from the African Union force, he said. Human Rights Watch urged donors at the Brussels conference to make sure their funding will not contribute to human rights abuses. After international donors funded police training and salaries in 2007, the group said, the police were widely implicated in serious human rights abuses including armed robbery, the arbitrary detention of civilians, and murder. The group urged donors to vet personnel who receive financial assistance and respond to serious abuses when they occur. ANC celebrate ahead of S. Africa vote tally
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (CNN) -- Votes were still being counted Thursday evening in South Africa's parliamentary elections, but the ruling African National Congress was already celebrating what party officials predicted will be a crushing victory. ANC leader Jacob Zuma is expected to be South Africa's next president. ANC leader Jacob Zuma is expected to be South Africa's next president. Click to view previous image 1 of 4 Click to view next image more photos »
Presumed president-to-be Jacob Zuma -- an ethnic Zulu whose flamboyant style sits in contrast to more staid predecessors Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki -- led a raucous rally in Johannesburg, telling thousands of cheering supporters the ANC will outstrip its goal of two-thirds control in parliament. "The ANC will never go above 60 percent -- that's what they were saying," Zuma said. "The counting is still continuing and I smell 70 percent." Members of parliament -- in which the ANC is virtually assured of having a majority -- will elect the president next month. Results of the Wednesday vote in South Africa, where there are 23 million registered voters and all votes are counted by hand, are expected by Saturday at the earliest -- although elections officials hope to have a preliminary tally before then. The ANC has dominated South African politics since its first democratic election in 1994. But Congress of the People, a breakaway faction of the ANC, and opposition party Democratic Alliance hoped to pull enough support to bring the ANC below two-thirds. Don't Miss * A look at some of South Africa's parties * In the Field: Rich and poor party with Zuma * In the Field: Rich and poor party with Zuma * iReport.com: Send us your photos, video The ANC has been dogged by allegations of corruption and has been accused of failing to deliver services to the poor. Video Watch as South Africa waits for a winner » Zuma, until recently, faced fraud and corruption charges. The country's prosecuting authority dropped the charges two weeks before the elections, citing alleged political interference in the case. Twenty-six parties ran in Wednesday's election. They included Islamic and Christian parties, and right-wing Afrikaaner and socialist groups. Video Voter shares feelings about ANC and new rival » More than 5,000 domestic and international observers are monitoring the election, according to the electoral commission. advertisement A self-described "farm boy" known to don traditional garb -- including leopard skins and a spear -- at ceremonial events, Zuma, 67, would put a different face on the party than Mandela, the attorney imprisoned under segregationist Apartheid
rule, and the Western-educated Mbeki. Learn more about some of South Africa's political parties On Thursday, as thousands cheered and fireworks exploded overhead, Zuma danced and sang his favorite song -- a Zulu anti-Apartheid anthem called "Bring Me My Machine Gun."