The Specialized Penal Court in Hadramout Province started on Sunday the trial of 12 Somali people on piracy charges.

At the first hearing chaired by Judge Abdu Ali Awadhi, the prosecution accused the Africans of hijacking two Yemeni boats and using them to attack Yemeni and foreign vessels passing in Yemen's territorial waters and international waterways.

The charges included that the Somalis prepared all necessary things to commit their crimes including the possession of weapons, explosives and ladders.

Their acts harmed Yemen's economic and trade position and exposed maritime navigation and vessels to dangers, the prosecution said.

The court reviewed evidence against the pirates including their confessions to illegal activities that they had given during interrogations.

The twelve pirates were arrested on May 28, 2010 off Nashtoun Port, Mahra.