US: FBI launches criminal piracy probe
12 Apr 2009 2:17 AM
US officials say the FBI has begun a criminal investigation into the Somali pirates who hijacked a US ship and are holding its captain hostage.
The Navy is in a standoff with the pirates .. hundreds of kilometres off Somalia's Indian Ocean coast.
They are holding RICHARD PHILLIPS .. captain of the US-flagged Maersk Alabama.
Depending on how the standoff plays out .. it could lead to US charges against the pirates.
