PTI

New York, Dec 17:  The UN Security Council has for the first time authorised the states fighting piracy off Somalia's coast to conduct land and air attacks on pirate bases on the coast of the Horn of Africa to deal with menace.

The Council's move came as the US for the first time supported deployment of the UN peacekeepers in the war torn country which does not have working government for last 17 years. Most of the southern part is controlled by Islamists and the government recognised by the United Nations hardly holds sway over any territory and is weak and divided.

The spurt in the pirates who have earned millions of dollars in ransom by hijacking ships in major sea lanes have created panic and several countries have sent naval ships but without much effect.

The Council decided to give wide powers to the countries whose Navies are operating in areas as diplomats said they were handicapped as they could not pursue pirates on land in Somalia. But by some accounts, the pirates are leading luxurious lives in Somalia on the money obtained from ransoms.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who attended the Council's meeting yesterday, said Washington would set up a contact group to coordinate and enhance anti-piracy efforts and called for setting up a United Nations peacekeeping force by the end of the year.

Most of the countries including India, who participated in the discussions, supported Rice but the United Nations officials were worried about the effectiveness of peacekeepers in the current uncertain security situation in the country.

In this context, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, cautious of the fact the inability of the peacekeepers to bring the situation under control could attract strong criticism, suggested a multinational force with a robust mandate to control the situation ahead of the peacekeeping mission.