Mogadishu,(insidesomalia.org)- Somali minister urges countries to use force on Somali pirates who have hijacked at least 30 vessels this year in the Gulf of Aden.

The government official from Somalia's northern semi-autonomous region of Puntland, whose name was not given, is appealing to companies and governments to which these ships belong, the ones whose nationals are being held by Somali pirates, not to pay any ransom but to use force.

French navy spokesman, Captain Christophe Prazuck says that the frigate Courbet is on location in the Gulf of Aden, as planned, as part of the multi-national Task Force150 made up of 12 vessels patrolling in the Gulf of Aden to dissuade piracy.

A recent resolution at the United Nations Security Council gave the right to chase pirates into Somalia's territorial waters. French government officials did not say if that option would be exercised, but they said they are ready to intervene if necessary.

Somali gunmen are currently holding about 10 vessels for ransom at Eyl, a lawless former fishing outpost in the Puntland region.

Meanwhile, London-bases Amnesty International, a human rights group, on Friday appealed to Somali authorities to help free scores of hostages seized by pirates off the dangerous coast of the Horn of Africa nation.

It said hijackers were detaining more than 130 crew members of ships captured in Somalia's pirate-infested waters.

It also called on them to "use their influence to ensure that detainees are given immediate and regular access to all necessary medical care and to adequate supplies of water and food," according to a statement.