Pirates demand $1m ransom

2008-09-04 14:10

Nairobi - A maritime official said on Thursday Somali pirates who seized a French yacht and kidnapped two French nationals were demanding a "ransom" of more than $1m to release the vessel.

Andrew Mwangura, of the Kenya-based Seafarers Assistance Programme, said they had received reports "the gunmen are demanding more than $1m in ransom to release the yacht".

The information could not be independently verified as authorities in Somalia's Puntland region, close to where the boat was attacked, could not confirm the claim.

Hijackers captured the 16m Carre d'as sailing boat in the Gulf of Aden late on Tuesday and were taking it to Eyl village, a pirate den in Somalia's northern semi-autonomous Puntland region.

The French foreign ministry said two French nationals were seized with the Venezuelan-registered boat.

Since the end of July, eight ships have been hijacked in the Gulf of Aden, including two Malaysian vessels as well as others from Germany, Iran and Japan.

The waters off Somalia are the most dangerous in the world for pirate activity, with the International Maritime Bureau reporting 24 attacks in the area between April and June this year.

- AFP