United Nations, Oct 25 (IANS): The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution calling on member states to step up efforts to criminalise piracy.

The 15-nation Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution Monday at the start of an open meeting on Somalia, which called upon member states "to report, no later than Dec 31 to the secretary-general on measures they have taken to criminalise piracy under their domestic law", Xinhua reported.

The council noted with concern that domestic laws of a number of states lacked provisions for criminalising piracy and also for effective criminal prosecution of suspected pirates.

Calling piracy "a matter of urgency", the resolution called upon member states, regional organisations and other appropriate partners to support efforts to establish specialised anti-piracy courts.

Somalia has been without a functioning government since 1991, and remains one of the world's most violent and lawless countries.

Attacks are now being carried out by increasingly well-coordinated gangs armed with automatic weapons and rocket-propelled grenades, officials have said.