Stockholm - The Swedish cabinet Thursday said it was to ask parliament to approve the deployment of three vessels off Somalia to protect humanitarian aid shipments.

The mission to protect United Nations shipments operated by the World Food Programme (WFP) was launched in December.

In addition, it was aimed at tackling the surge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

"The Swedish participation is in response to a UN request to protect and secure WFP food shipments to Somalia," Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said.

The Swedish contribution would consist of two corvettes and a supply vessel, and have a four-month mandate.

Defence Minister Sten Tolgfors said the 160-strong Swedish forces were to be part of a European Union mission and be in charge of protecting shipments to northern Somalia. (dpa)