Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal called the hijacking of a Saudi oil supertanker by Somali pirates on Monday "outrageous," and said his country would join the multinational effort to protect shipping lanes and eradicate piracy.

Pirates took over the MV Sirius Star Saturday off the Kenyan coast. It was being taken to the Somali port of Eyl, one of the African country's main pirate ports.

"This outrageous act by the pirates, I think, will only reinforce the resolve of the countries of the Red Sea and internationally to fight piracy," Al-Faisal said.

"Piracy is against everybody. Like terrorism it is a disease that has to be eradicated," he said, noting that it was a complex problem that required an international response.

The tanker's owners said the ship is loaded with about $100 million worth of crude. All crewmembers are safe and accounted for, reports said.

© 2008 Newsroom.