CAIRO (AFP) - Pirates have seized two Egyptian fishing boats off the coast of the Somali breakaway region of Somaliland, a senior Egyptian official said on Monday. Our ambassador in Somalia has confirmed the boats were captured off the coast of Somaliland, Ahmad Rizk, deputy foreign minister for consular affairs, told reporters. Rizk was unable to say when the boats, with a combined crew of between 18 and 24 sailors, were captured, but said that the Egyptian foreign ministry was investigating the incident. Rizk earlier told state television that Egypts ambassador in Somalia said it was the first time boats were seized off the coast of Somaliland. , which is considered one of the safest coastlines in the region. Somali pirates have increased attacks in recent days despite the presence of an international task force gathered to defend shipping in what is one of the worlds busiest shipping lanes.