UNITED NATIONS, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) has welcomed a new Security Council resolution that aims to curb piracy off Somalia's coast by allowing ships to enter the country's territorial waters to prevent attacks by armed robbers.

    Firm action is needed since piracy is stifling the flow of aid to Somalis, jeopardizing the lives of seafarers, fishermen and passengers, and damaging international trade, said IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos in a statement Tuesday.

    Under the Security Council resolution, foreign countries cooperating with Somalia's Transitional Federal Government can, in accordance with international law, enter the country's territorial waters to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

    The resolution, which has a validity period of six months, follows a surge in attacks on ships in waters off Somalia's coast, including hijackings of vessels operated by the World Food Program.

    The resolution was adopted by the Council Monday with the consent of the TFG, which lacks the capacity to interdict pirates or patrol and secure its territorial waters.

    "We should work together to ensure that acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships sailing off the coast of Somalia are prevented and suppressed," Mitropoulos said.

    The Security Council encouraged countries interested in the use of commercial routes off the coast of Somalia to increase and coordinate their efforts to deter attacks upon and the hijacking of vessels, in cooperation with the country's government.