Troops seize nine pirates

Yemeni special forces today stormed an oil tanker captured by Somali pirates and seized at least nine bandits.

The coastguard exchanged gunfire with the pirates and took control of the oil tanker Qana, one of four Yemeni tankers attacked off the country's coast. Pirates from the other vessels were repelled by coastguards.

Today's drama comes after security guards on an Italian cruise ship with 1,500 passengers fended off an attack from pirates off the coast of Somalia on Saturday.

The Qana, which was empty of cargo, is being escorted back to Yemen. Last year, pirates attacked more than 100 ships in the region.