Somali pirates release Danes
22/08/2007 22:18  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

Ransom demanded for seamen Gunmen free boat, crew Pirate attacks 'out of control'

Copenhagen - Five Danes held by pirates who hijacked a Danish freighter off the Somali coast in June have been released, the Danish foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

"The five have been released," said a duty officer at the ministry.

No other details were disclosed, but the foreign ministry was due to hold a press conference in Copenhagen at 19:00.

The Danica White freighter was hijacked with its five crew members on June 2, about 240 nautical miles off the Somali coast while heading to Kenya's Mombasa port to deliver about 1 000 tonnes of construction material.

In July, Kenyan maritime officials said the pirates had demanded a $1.5m ransom.

Somalia, which lies in a strategic position at the mouth of the Red Sea, has been without an effective government since the 1991 ouster of dictator Mohamed Siad Barre sparked a bloody power struggle.

Acts of piracy occur frequently in the waters off the east and west coasts of Africa.

What is this? Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
	News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile		News24 on mobile