EU agrees in principle to extend anti-piracy operation

A European Union anti-piracy operation off Somalia could be extended to cover the Seychelles and its mandate prolonged beyond the end of the year, EU ministers and officials said on Monday.

"We have reached a general agreement on the principle," said Bruno Le Maire, French junior minister for European Affairs, referring to the plan to extend the operation to the Seychelles, from where officials say armed gangs have been operating against shipping.

He spoke to reporters after a meeting of EU defence and foreign ministers in Brussels.

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