A judge in Virginia, the United States has rejected charges of piracy against six Somali men accused of attacking a US Navy ship last spring off the coast of Africa. Judge Raymond Jackson ruled the piracy charges should be dismissed because the group did not rob, board or take control of the USS Ashland. Prosecutors accuse the six of opening fire on the ship in the Gulf of Aden. The men still face seven other charges over the alleged 10 April attack.