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Somalia: Somali pirates release Filipino crew held for a month
Fri. August 29, 2008 01:08 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) A senior Somali government official said on Thursday that Somali pirates have released an Omani ship they had held hostage for months.
"The Omani ship held for six months was released on Wednesday night," Abdiqadir Muse Yusuf, assistant minister for fisheries in northern Somalia's Puntland region, said.
"I think a ransom was paid but I do not know the exact amount," he added.
Yusuf said the Filipino crew who were on board were safe and on their way home.
Meanwhile, piracy is rife off Somalia, which has been mired in anarchy since warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991.
Maritime officials say at least 30 ships have been hijacked off the coast of Horn of Africa nation so far in 2008.
A record four ships were seized in 48 hours last week, meaning pirates are holding hostage four cargo vessels, two tankers and a tug boat, along with about 130 crew members in the Horn of Africa nation mired in anarchy.
Most shipping companies have paid ransoms of at least $10 000 (about R77-million) and in some cases much more. A lot of that money is now in the hands of pirates in the semi-autonomous Puntland-Reuters
News Category: Somalia
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