Pirates Hijack Four Americans; U.S. Assesses Responses

The United States says it is assessing possible responses after Somali pirates hijacked a yacht with four Americans on board.

The Associated Press reported the boat was hijacked in the Arabian sea off the coast of Somalia on February 18. A spokesman, Matt Goshko, at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, which oversees Somalia, said U.S. agencies were working to "assess options and possible responses."

Pirates have increased attacks off the coast of East Africa in recent years despite an international flotilla of warships dedicated to stop the pirate assaults.

compiled from agency reports