Russia said last week that it had captured a pirate vessel with 29 people on board off the coast of Somalia, but has not yet decided where to take the suspected pirates to trial.

"It is necessary to consider all the possibilities, including, the formation of some kinds of international court to deal with this issue," Mr Medvedev told Prosecutor General Yury Chaika on television.

"Often the countries these pirates come from do not take any action, in short, they are aiding this kind of crime," Mr Medvedev said.

Russia is a naval power with warships in the area to protect one of the world's busiest sea-lanes from hijackings by Somali pirates.