Obama vows to combat piracy

US President Barack Obama has pledged to combat the rise of piracy off the coast of Somalia.

The move comes as US naval forces rescued US merchant captain Richard Phillips from his captors.

Snipers shot dead three of the pirates holding Captain Phillips in a boat off Somalia, in a dramatic rescue authorised by Mr Obama.

A fourth pirate is in custody.

'We remain resolved to halt the rise of piracy in this region,' President Obama said in his first public statement on the pirate standoff.

'To achieve that goal, we must continue to work with our partners to prevent future attacks, be prepared to interdict acts of piracy and ensure that those who commit acts of piracy are held accountable for their crimes.'

Somali pirates are currently holding more than a dozen other vessels, along with more than 200 hostages taken in their hijacking efforts.

Mr Obama was regularly updated on events aboard the Maersk Alabama after pirates hijacked the cargo ship on Wednesday.

On Friday and Saturday he gave US forces authority 'to engage in potential emergency actions,' an administration official said.

'I am very pleased that Captain Phillips has been rescued and is safely on board the USS Boxer,' Mr Obama said, referring to the US assault ship where Captain Phillips was flown after the rescue that capped a tense five-day hostage crisis with Somali pirates.

The captain's safety 'has been our principal concern, and I know this is a welcome relief to his family and his crew,' the president added.

Pirates threaten US revenege attacks

A Somali pirate chief has threatened to target Americans in revenge for the rescue of a Captain Phillips, which saw military snipers kill his captors.

After the rescue, the head of the pirate group that held the American hostage aboard a lifeboat, said they had agreed to free him without ransom before the US navy took action.

'The American liars have killed our friends after they agreed to free the hostage without ransom, but I tell you that this matter will lead to retaliation and we will hunt down particularly American citizens travelling our waters,' Abdi Garad said by phone from the pirate lair of Eyl.

'We will intensify our attacks even reaching very far away from Somalia waters, and next time we get American citizens... they (should) expect no mercy from us.'

Mortars fired at US Congressman in Mogadishu

Somali insurgents fired mortars towards US congressman Donald Payne as he left the Somali capital on a rare visit by a US politician to the anarchic Horn of Africa nation, police said.

'One mortar landed at the airport when Payne's plane was due to fly and five others after he left and no one was hurt,' Abukar Hassan, a police officer at Mogadishu airport, said.

Somali officials had said Mr Payne would discuss ways the international community could help the government, and the issue of piracy, during the short visit.