Indian navy thwarts pirate attack

New Delhi: The Indian navy said Monday it thwarted a pirate attack on an American tanker in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Somalia.
An Indian warship patrolling the seas responded to a distress call from the tanker belonging to the Nordic American Tanker Company after it was fired upon by pirates, said P.V.S. Satish, the navy spokesman in New Delhi.
A helicopter immediately took off from the warship and foiled the pirates' attempt, Satish said. Other details were not immediately available. [08/12/09]