The Netherlands is joining a new centre being set up by Great Britain in the Seychelles to bring to justice pirates operating off Somalia's coast.

The Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecutions Intelligence Coordination Centre (RAPPICC) in the Seychelles is a British initiative, and London will provide its director and most of its financing. In addition to Britain and the Netherlands, the centre also involves the Seychelles and Interpol.

The centre aims to gather evidence to bring pirates to trial. The centre is not only after the pirates but also the organisations that finance piracy. The Gulf of Aden has long been infested by pirates who capture ships for ransom.

An international conference on Somalia is due to start in London on Thursday, with piracy high on the agenda.

(cl/imm)

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