NATO agrees to send ships to counter piracy

NATO defense ministers agreed Thursday to send warships to patrol the coast of Somalia to deter pirate attacks and escort U.N. food aid vessels into the lawless east African nation.

NATO's chief spokesman James Appathurai said ministers agreed that a seven-ship NATO force would be in the region within two weeks.

Some, but not necessarily all, will operate anti-pirate patrols and escort World Food Program ships, he told a news conference.

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