Pirate attacks at 7-yr high last year, mostly led by Somali gangs

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Pirate attacks on ships worldwide hit a seven year high in 2010 and a record number of crew were taken hostage, a maritime watchdog body said, despite increased patrolling of the seas.

Somalia remained the biggest problem with pirates operating off the country's shore accounting for 49 of the 52 ships seized last year, an official at the reporting centre of the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur said.