Somali pirates face trial in Germany

Hamburg, 11 June-(ANA)-Ten alleged Somali pirates extradited from the Netherlands are awaiting trial in the north German city of Hamburg.

The handover took place on the Dutch-German border on Thursday.

The 10, who include a teenager, were captured by Dutch navy commandos after an attack on a German cargo ship, MV Taipan, off the Somali coast in April.

Prosecutors are expected to charge them with hijacking. German media say it will be the first ever trial of suspected Somali pirates in Germany.

Earlier a judge in Amsterdam ruled that while the Netherlands had the power to try the men, it was not sufficient grounds for refusing extradition to Germany.

Defence lawyers argued that the attacked ship had been registered in the Bahamas and not in Germany as was claimed.

The MV Taipan was seized some 900 km (560 miles) east of the Somali coast in early April. (ANA)

FA/ANA/11 June 2010---------