map
Pirates have attacked an oil tanker off the coast of west Africa, killing a Ukrainian seaman, the commander of Benin's naval forces says.
Cdr Fernand Maxime Ahoyo says the Cancale Star's chief engineer was killed and one other crewman wounded.
The pirates attacked the vessel some 18 nautical miles (33km) off the coast of Benin, in what correspondents say is the country's first such attack.
One pirate was overpowered by the crew, but the others managed to escape.
Benin-based journalist Esther Tola told the BBC that the pirates were thought to be from Nigeria.
The commander said naval forces had rescued the crew from the tanker and brought them into port.
There were 24 seamen of different nationalities on board the Liberia-flagged vessel, including Filipinos, Lithuanians and Ukranians, Cdr Ahoyo told AFP news agency.
Western front
The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) says piracy in the waters of west Africa is on the rise, with 100 such incidents recorded last year.
The IMB has previously warned of heightened piracy risks along shipping routes in Nigeria and Ghana, to the east and west of Benin.
It said attacks usually took place while ships were at anchor or close to coastal areas, unlike in eastern Africa, where Somali pirates strike ships hundreds of miles out to sea.
More than 10 ships and 200 hostages are currently being held by pirates operating in waters off Somalia.
An international force of about 40 warships has been stationed around the Gulf of Aden, in an effort to clamp down on piracy in some the world's busiest shipping lanes.
Print Sponsor
Captain Peter Stapleton
'Passive defence'Speedboat
How to try to counter a pirate attackvideo Close-Up: The Basque country's txoco clubs
video One-minute World News
video Persian new year celebrated
video Five Minutes With: Sir Jonathan Miller
video Clever crow creates a new tool
video Cambodian victim on her acid attack
video Close-Up: Tokyo's plastic food
video Walsh on BA talks failure
video 'Strong' turnout for BA strike
video Five Minutes With: Dame Joan Bakewell
Scene of the massacre in the South African township of Sharpeville on March 21st 1960. The police opened fired on a demonstration against apartheid laws, killing 69 people, and wounding 180.
Sharpeville ghostsLambs snuggling
Singing in the rainAn elephant at Kruger Park, South Africa
Hide and seekMost Popular Now | 31,071 people are reading stories on the site right now.
Quantcast
BBC © MMX
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.watch One-Minute World News