French Marines patrolling the pirate-infested coast of Somalia have handed over nine Somali pirates they have captured to the authorities of the northeastern Somali region, senior Somali official said on Thursday.

Ports and fisheries official Abdulkadir Muse Yusuf said the pirates would be prosecuted in the coming months. He told local media that the pirates who had speed boats have thrown their weapons as the French warships closed in on them.

French marines have reportedly destroyed the speed boats. There were no reports of shooting between the two sides.

French marines recently stepped up patrols in Somali coast while NATO has sent seven warships to guard the pirate-infested coastline where UN resolutions early this year authorized members to fight rampant piracy.

The International Maritime Bureau said Somali pirates were now responsible for nearly a third of all reported attacks on ships worldwide, with 63 of the 199 piracy incidents recorded worldwide in the first nine months of 2008 occurring in the waters off Somalia.

Local security forces who act as coastguards of the region as the national government has no air or navy forces, this month managed to rescued two hijacked ships carrying merchandise for local business people.

The local authorities said they are prevented from attempting to free other abducted ships by foreign governments concerned about the safety of their national on board the ships.

(Xinhua News Agency October 24, 2008)