EU Navy says spotted yacht close to Somali coast

BRUSSELS, Oct 27 (Reuters) - The European Union counter piracy force said on Tuesday it had spotted a yacht close to the region where pirates earlier said they had seized a yacht crewed by two Britons, but the vessel's identity was not yet clear.

"I can confirm at present that a EU Navfor helicopter spotted a sailing yacht in the line between the distress call and the Somali costline and this yacht is now 200 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia," Lieutenant Commander Daniel Auwermann, spokesman for EU Navfor told Reuters.

"What we can't confirm is if it is the same sailing yacht which we are looking for. That needs further investivation, the reason is that it is dark in the area," he said. (Reporting by Bate Felix, Editing by Peter Harrison)