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| Somali 'pirates' taken to Paris | Somali 'pirates' taken to Paris |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Six Somalis accused of taking a luxury yacht's crew hostage have arrived in Paris on a military plane to face questioning, judicial sources said. | Six Somalis accused of taking a luxury yacht's crew hostage have arrived in Paris on a military plane to face questioning, judicial sources said. |
| They were detained on Friday by French commandos in a helicopter raid soon after pirates released 30 hostages from the French yacht, the Ponant. | They were detained on Friday by French commandos in a helicopter raid soon after pirates released 30 hostages from the French yacht, the Ponant. |
| The hostages, 22 French citizens, six Filipinos, a Cameroonian and a Ukrainian, were seized a week earlier. | The hostages, 22 French citizens, six Filipinos, a Cameroonian and a Ukrainian, were seized a week earlier. |
| The six Somalis will be questioned at French police headquarters. | The six Somalis will be questioned at French police headquarters. |
| They can be held for questioning for up to four days, and, depending on the outcome, may face trial in France. | They can be held for questioning for up to four days, and, depending on the outcome, may face trial in France. |
| This would be the first trial of its kind in France, says the BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris. | This would be the first trial of its kind in France, says the BBC's Alasdair Sandford in Paris. |
| The group arrived in France on board a military plane at about 0600 (0400 GMT). | The group arrived in France on board a military plane at about 0600 (0400 GMT). |
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| French commandos chase and detain Somali 'pirates' | French commandos chase and detain Somali 'pirates' |
| A senior legal source said Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had given his consent for them to be taken out of the country, our correspondent adds. | A senior legal source said Somali President Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed had given his consent for them to be taken out of the country, our correspondent adds. |
| French authorities are said to consider the matter a criminal one rather than one linked to terrorism. | French authorities are said to consider the matter a criminal one rather than one linked to terrorism. |
| Police specialising in organised crime are to investigate the case. They are also expected to question the crew members who were flown to Paris earlier this week. | Police specialising in organised crime are to investigate the case. They are also expected to question the crew members who were flown to Paris earlier this week. |
| The yacht's 30-member crew was released after its owners apparently paid a ransom of $2m (£1m; 1.3m euros). | The yacht's 30-member crew was released after its owners apparently paid a ransom of $2m (£1m; 1.3m euros). |
| Threat | Threat |
| Gen Jean-Louis Georgelin, the chief of staff of the French armed forces, described on Saturday how troops moved in after the Ponant came ashore, seized six pirates - said to be part of an original group of 12 - and found part of a probable ransom paid by its owners. | Gen Jean-Louis Georgelin, the chief of staff of the French armed forces, described on Saturday how troops moved in after the Ponant came ashore, seized six pirates - said to be part of an original group of 12 - and found part of a probable ransom paid by its owners. |
| None of the hostages were harmed | None of the hostages were harmed |
| The 88-metre (290ft) boat and its 30 crew were seized in the Gulf of Aden on 4 April. | The 88-metre (290ft) boat and its 30 crew were seized in the Gulf of Aden on 4 April. |
| It was then moored near the port of Eyl in the northern Somali semi-autonomous Puntland region, while the pirates held negotiations with its owners, French charter company CMA-CGM. | It was then moored near the port of Eyl in the northern Somali semi-autonomous Puntland region, while the pirates held negotiations with its owners, French charter company CMA-CGM. |
| The suspected pirates are believed to be fishermen and were detained in the village of Jariban. | The suspected pirates are believed to be fishermen and were detained in the village of Jariban. |
| France has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multi-national naval force that patrols this part of the Indian Ocean. | France has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multi-national naval force that patrols this part of the Indian Ocean. |
| Somali coastal waters are known to be among the most hazardous in the world. More than 25 ships were seized there by pirates in 2007. | Somali coastal waters are known to be among the most hazardous in the world. More than 25 ships were seized there by pirates in 2007. |
| Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity. | Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity. |