U.S.: Allow pirate hunt in Somalia, its air space

U.S.: Allow pirate hunt in Somalia, its air space

UNITED NATIONS - As Somalia's government crumbles, the U.S. is proposing that the United Nations authorize tracking down Somali pirates not only at sea, but on land and in Somali air space.

The U.S. is circulating the draft U.N. Security Council resolution as one of the Bush administration's last major foreign-policy initiatives. The resolution proposes that all nations and regional groups cooperating with Somalia's U.N.-backed government in the fight against piracy "may take all necessary measures ashore in Somalia."

But Somalia's struggling government may need even more propping up.

The council's group that monitors Somalia reported Thursday that more than 15,000 soldiers and police - 80 percent of the government's security capabilities - have deserted the government and fled with their vehicles and weapons.

Piracy is booming, meanwhile, with about 1,500 pirates based in the Puntland region raking in millions of dollars, South African Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo told the council.



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