CAIRO, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- A group of pirates hijacked an Egyptian cargo ship off the Somali coasts on Thursday morning, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

    The Egyptian ship Blue Star, carrying some 6,000 tons of urea, has 28 crew members on board, Egypt's Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs Ahmed Rezq was quoted as saying.

    A group of 15 armed pirates seized the cargo ship took the crew as hostages, said Rezq, adding the ship was sailing towards the east when it was hijacked.

    Efforts are under way to contact with the pirates to ensure the safety of the hostages on the ship, which was sailing to an undisclosed location off the Somalia coasts, added the Egyptian official.

    The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also started contacts with international forces, including the European naval force command at Northwood, to help solve the issue, he said.

    Last September, Somalia pirates hijacked an Egyptian ship with 25 crew members and set them free after 20 days of negotiations with the Egyptian intelligence services.

    Egypt has vowed to fight against pirates near the waters of the Red Sea which links the Suez Canal, one of the most important international waterways and sources of the Egyptian revenue.

    On Nov. 19, 2008, Egyptian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hossam Zaki said his country will take all necessary measures in fighting against piracy in and near the Red Sea.

    Later in last December, Egyptian cabinet spokesman Magdi Radi said his country is ready to take part in an international force under the United Nations to fight against piracy.