U.S. said unlikely to attack Somali pirate bases

By Andrew Gray and Sue Pleming

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is unlikely to attack Somali pirate bases on land due to the risk of civilian deaths but it may help local authorities fight the scourge, a senior U.S. defense official said on Monday.

Somali gangs have captured dozens of ships and earned tens of millions of dollars in ransom, pushing the issue up the U.S. security agenda, particularly after pirates tried to hijack a U.S.-flagged ship with an American crew this month.

The brief seizure of the Maersk Alabama and the subsequent hostage drama involving the ship's captain have led to calls from lawmakers in Washington and former military officers for U.S. forces to attack the pirates' base camps on land.

But U.S. officials are wary of any action that could kill civilians and lead the pirates to seek common cause with Islamist militants such as Somalia's al-Shabab group.

"We are not really looking at, from a U.S. standpoint, doing anything on land," the senior defense official told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"These base camps are located, co-located essentially, with villages so the potential for collateral damage is significant."

Asked about the possibility of air strikes, the official said "never say never," but they were unlikely for the same reasons. The United States has used air strikes in the past to target Islamist militants in lawless Somalia.

PUNTLAND ASSISTANCE POSSIBLE