Russian warship targets freighter hijacked off Somalia coast

Our Africa correspondent, Andrew Geoghegan, reports a Russian warship is on its way to intercept the hijacked Ukrainian freighter, which is carrying ammunition and 33 Russian tanks bound for Kenya.

The Somali government has given the Russians permission to use force against the pirates, who seized the ship a week ago.

However, an east African maritime union has appealed to the Russians to use restraint and not endanger the 20 Ukrainian and Russian crewmen onboard.

The freighter is currently being shadowed by American warships.