Foreign Secretary David Miliband announced that a European military initiative to 'disrupt and tackle the scourge of piracy' would be commanded from HMS Cumberland, a Plymouth-based type 22 frigate that carries sailors from our area.

Cumberland is currently on a Nato-led deployment in the Gulf of Aden, helping to combat piracy after a recent rise in attacks on merchant shipping in the region.

Last week the ship exchanged fire with a Yemeni dhow that had been involved in a raid on a Danish ship, killing three pirates.

And on Tuesday eight further pirates captured in the raid were handed to Kenyan police.

Mr Miliband said the problem of piracy was 'a grave danger to the stability in the region'. Speaking in Beirut, he said: 'The United Kingdom is very worried about the piracy in the Gulf of Aden and in Somalia.'

British merchant sailors, Chief Officer Peter French and Second Officer James Grady, have been taken hostage aboard the tanker Sirius Star.

The 1,092-ft Saudi Arabian ship was today reported to be anchored off the pirate safe-haven of Eyl, a former fishing village in north-east Somalia.

Armed forces minister Bob Ainsworth praised the navy for capturing the eight pirates last week.

'I would like to pay tribute to the crews of HMS Cumberland, RFA Wave Knight and to the Royal Marines, whose bravery and professionalism played a critical part in this operation,' he said.

'We are sending a strong message to pirates that their activities will not be tolerated and that the global community is united in its efforts to deter and disrupt them.

'The Royal Navy is actively contributing to international counter-piracy efforts around the Horn of Africa.'

Royal Marines on the frigate HMS Cum-berland shot dead three Somali pirates last week in the Gulf of Aden, between Somalia and Yemen.

A foreign flagged dhow, believed to be Yemeni, was identified as having tried to hijack a Danish vessel, the MV Powerful, the Ministry of Defence said.

Two Royal Navy assault craft carrying marines armed with machineguns and SA80 rifles were launched from Cumberland to intercept the dhow.

But the MOD said there was an exchange of fire before it was
boarded.