'No reason to complain'
2008-11-24 20:05
London - The crew of the Saudi super-tanker seized by Somali pirates have no reason to complain about their treatment, its Polish captain told the BBC on Monday.
"I would say there is not a reason for complaints," Marek Nishky said, in an interview with the British broadcaster conducted in the presence of at least one of the pirates.
"We were given already the opportunity to talk to our families, and today I was negotiating with a gentlemen here (about) another such possibility.
"I am promised it will be soon, today or tomorrow, my crew will again be allowed to talk to their families. As you can realise, these are the most important things for us now," he added.
The Sirius Star was seized in the Indian Ocean on November 15, and is now anchored off the Somali coastal village of Harardhere. The 25-strong crew includes sailors from Britain, Croatia, the Philippines, Poland and Saudi Arabia.
Earlier on Monday the leader of the pirates denied that the hijackers had lowered their ransom demand, insisting they still wanted $25m for the ship's release.
Tensions have mounted between the pirates and hardline Islamist Shebab fighters who threatened to attack the hijackers ahead of a November 30 deadline they set for the Saudi owners of the vessel to pay ransom.
- AFP