Nairobi: The growth in piracy off Somalia is being aggravated by the country's feuding politicians and the United Nations should send peacekeepers there quickly, Africa's top diplomat said on Thursday.

Gunmen from the chaotic Horn of Africa country grabbed world headlines with Saturday's spectacular capture of a huge Saudi Arabian supertanker loaded with $100 million worth of oil, the biggest ship hijacking in history.

Jean Ping, chairman of the African Union Commission, said the increasing piracy was "a clear indication of the further deterioration of the situation with far-reaching consequences for this country, the region and ... international community".

Scores of attacks in Somali waters this year have driven up insurance costs for shipping firms, and even made some companies divert cargo around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope.

Military forces from NATO, the European Union and elsewhere are trying to protect vessels using the area - one of the world's busiest shipping corridors linking Europe to Asia - but have been unable to stop most attacks.

Since seizing the supertanker Sirius Star, Somali gunmen have hijacked a Hong Kong-flagged ship heading for Iran and a Thai fishing boat. East African maritime officials say a third vessel, a Greek carrier, was also taken, but Athens denies it.

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister said on Wednesday the owners of the Sirius Star were in talks over a possible ransom.

The tanker was seized 450 nautical miles southeast of Mombasa, Kenya - far beyond the gangs' usual area of operations. It was believed to be anchored near Eyl, a former Somali fishing village that is now a well-defended pirate base.

Source : Reuters