Last updated: 6 january, 2010 - 15:23 GMT

Somali piracy

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Mauritius is encouraging ships operating within its territorial waters to carry armed security guards.

It is supposed to deter pirate attacks, mostly from Somalia.

Somali pirates have been capturing ships in the Indian Ocean and holding the vessels and their crews to ransom.

To find out about Mauritius' decision, Focus on Africa's Hassan Arouni called up the foreign minister, Arvin Boolell on the line to Port Louis.

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