Around 200 Somali pirates are reported to have renounced piracy at a meeting in northern Somalia.

Members of the group met local leaders and Somali expatriates in Eyl, in the autonomous region of Puntland, and promised to halt their activities.

Pirate representative Abshir Abdullah told the BBC he urged other groups to free ships in return for amnesty.

Pirates have been coming under pressure from local leaders, who have accused them of corrupting their communities.

Somalia has been without a stable government since 1991, allowing piracy to flourish.

The problem worsened in the first months of 2009 despite patrols by foreign navies.

Last week, Somalia's interim government asked for international help to set up a national coastguard to help tackle piracy, and protect fishermen from illegal foreign fishing boats and to prevent dumping of toxic materials.

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!