EU anti-piracy force to move some air assets south

The head of the European Union's anti-piracy force says he will move some air assets south to help counter the spread of Somali pirates to the Indian Ocean.

The head of the European Union's anti-piracy force says he will move some air assets south to help counter the spread of Somali pirates to the Indian Ocean. Rear Adm. Peter Hudson says stationing aircraft further south in Kenya will help surveillance when the monsoon period ends in four to six weeks time and pirate attacks are expected to sharply increase.

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The pirates expanded their range hundreds of miles south of Somalia last year, partly in reaction to the increased naval presence on the Gulf of Aden. There are currently around 30 warships in the Gulf and many manned and unmanned aircraft on surveillance missions.

Kenyan military spokesman Bogita Ongeri said on Thursday that Kenya is eager to help stop piracy.