Officials: 11 pirate suspects headed for US
By PAULINE JELINEK (AP)

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say 11 pirate suspects are being flown to the United States and could appear for a court hearing on their indictment as early as Friday morning.

The officials say the suspects were taken from the USS Nassau amphibious assault ship off Africa's coast Thursday, handed over to U.S. law enforcement officials and were being flown to Norfolk, Virginia. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the cases.

The 11 are alleged to have fired on two U.S. naval vessels in two separate incidents in recent weeks.

Ten more alleged pirates are still being held by the Navy, but it was unclear Thursday whether any nation would prosecute them.

Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.