Mogadishu, Sept 25, SPA --At least one crew member was killed when Somalipirates tried to seize a ship in Mogadishu harbour, dpa quoted the African Unionpeacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) as announcing today. Two pirates skiffs boarded the Panama-flagged MV Barwaqo lateThursday as it approached the harbour, but police and peacekeepersmanaged to free the vessel, AMISOM spokesman Bariyge Bahuko said. "The ship called for help and AU peacekeepers went out to free it,but the criminals had already boarded," he told the German PressAgency dpa. "They opened fire and one person was killed." Bahuko could not confirm who died, but local media reports saythat the Syrian captain was killed after he refused to turn the shipaway from port. Pirate attacks off the coast of Somalia continue to rise as youngmen look to make millions of dollars from shipping companies inransom payments. Some 42 vessels were seized in the Gulf of Aden and the IndianOcean near Somalia last year. Already this year the pirates havetaken over 30 ships. There have been few attacks in the last few months due to monsoonseason, but analysts and US Navy officials are warning that animprovement in the weather means the pirates will soon begin seizingships again. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/703078