Somalis deny US piracy charges

The Somali suspects face a mandatory life sentence if convicted of piracy

Five Somali men accused of firing at a US Navy ship off the coast of Africa are set to face the first US piracy trial in more than 100 years.

The suspects apparently mistook the guided-missile frigate USS Nicholas for a merchant ship, west of the Seychelles, court documents said.

They allegedly fired on the ship which was patrolling the area for pirates; it shot back, forcing the men to flee.

The men were later captured and brought back to the US to stand trial.

The USS Nicholas piracy trial is thought to be the first in the US in at least a century, according to legal and maritime scholars, says the Associated Press news agency.

The trial, which is taking place in Norfolk, Virginia, is expected to last for about a month. Piracy carries a mandatory life sentence.

Norfolk is the home of the world’s largest naval base and the home port of the Nicholas.

The charges against the men include piracy, attacking to plunder a maritime vessel, and assault with a dangerous weapon.

The five suspects were arrested in April, along with six others who were captured a few days later in waters near Djibouti after allegedly shooting at the USS Ashland, an amphibious vessel.

Pirates operating off the African coast have intensified attacks on shipping in recent years.

With piracy increasing, there have been calls for international courts to be set up to deal with the problem.

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