Saudi Arabia to join international force against piracy

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal has said in Rome that his government will not negotiate with terrorists and that Riyadh will join international forces to crack down on growing piracy threats off the Somali coasts.

"Saudi Arabia does not negotiate with pirates or terrorists or kidnappers, but the negotiating decision over the hijacked Saudi oil tanker is within jurisdiction of the owner company," Prince Saud told a news conference with his Italian counterpart Franco Frattini on Wednesday.

Pirates hijacked several days ago Saudi super oil tanker ‘Sirius Star’ about 800 kilometers off the Kenyan coast and anchored at the present somewhere on the Somali coast. The 'Sirius Star' is reportedly loaded with USD 100 million worth of two million barrels of oil.

Prince Saud said he knew that the owners of the tanker are negotiating and this is up to them.

"What we know is that we will join an international intervention force against the pirates, and Saudi Arabia will contribute to all efforts to countering this danger," he added.