Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has called for a new international tribunal to be set up to try suspected pirates.

He said national courts were insufficient to deal with international crimes. He compared piracy with terrorism and drug trafficking. The Netherlands has indicated it is ready to house such a tribunal. The country already is home to several international courts, including the Yugoslavia tribunal and the International Criminal Court. The Hague and the United States have called for NATO to be given authority to capture and try pirates caught off the coast of Somalia. Under the existing rules, NATO ships which capture pirates have to free them without trial.
 

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (Photo: Flickr / World Economic Forum)