Government has decided to intensify diplomatic efforts to address the issue of piracy in the Gulf of Eden. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha after the meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security which met in New Delhi this morning, the External Affairs Minister Mr. S.M. Krishna said that the issue will be taken up at the UN and other multilateral fora. Reiterating the governments resolve to seek safe and secure release of Indian nationals held hostage. He said a number of other measures are also being taken to deal with this menace effectively. This includes coordination of Indian Navy with other national navies to eradicate this problem. The Minister added that the Ministry of Shipping, Defence and External Affairs will have an important role to play in this direction. He said New Delhi is in touch with the governments of Egypt, UAE and other nations whose nationals have been held hostage to seek the safe and secure release of the Indian hostages. Ministry of External Affairs said that government is making all out efforts to seek the safe release of 53 sailors still held hostage by Somali Pirates. In a related development, families of some people who have been held hostage this evening met the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention to secure the release of the sailors. They also met the Lok Sabha Speaker Mrs. Miera Kumar and leader of the opposition Sushama Swaraj.