Nairobi, September 05 , SPA -- The United Nations Special Representative forSomalia Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah called for international action Fridayto combat a surge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden off the coast ofSomalia, DPA reported Piracy has surged this year in the Gulf of Aden, part of animportant shipping route from the Indian Ocean to the MediterraneanSea via the Suez Canal. Up to 10 ships are believed to be in the hands of pirates at themoment, with four of them being seized within a 24-hour period. The United Nations Security Council in June approved incursionsinto Somali waters to combat the pirates, and while Ould-Abdallahwelcomed this move he said that it was time for a "collaborativeeffort to put the resolution into effect." "We have to work quickly before the level of criminal activityincreases and affects ports in neighbouring countries," he said. Malaysia on Friday said it was sending three warships to the Gulfof Aden after two of its ships were hijacked with the loss of onelife. However, the ships are only going to provide security for fiveships owned by Malaysian shipping line MISC Berhad. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/587653