DW-World.de
Deutsche Welle

The United Nations Security Council has agreed to impose sanctions against anyone contributing to violence and instability in Somalia. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is continuing diplomatic efforts to assemble a multinational force to combat pirates in the Horn of Africa. Germany has offered assistance in restoring security in the region. German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung said, however, the international community needed a clear operational plan and clear rules of engagement. Meanwhile Somali pirates have set a 10-day deadline to pay a 25-million-dollar ransom for a supertanker they hijacked last weekend.