French naval ship repels attack by pirates

A French naval vessel repelled a night assault by Somali pirates and captured five of the attackers after a chase on the high seas, the French military said today.

"They apparently thought it was a harmless cargo ship," military spokesman Christophe Prazuck said.

He said pirates on board two speedboats tried to board the Somme, a French navy command and supply ship, some 250 miles off the Somali coast.

The Somme repelled the attack and immediately gave chase to the boats, seizing one and capturing five pirates, Prazuck said. No one was injured in the chase.