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| France frees sailors from pirates | France frees sailors from pirates |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The French army has freed two sailors seized by pirates off the Somali coast, the French presidency says. | The French army has freed two sailors seized by pirates off the Somali coast, the French presidency says. |
| One pirate was killed in the operation and another six captured, it says. | One pirate was killed in the operation and another six captured, it says. |
| The two were seized in a sailing boat in the Gulf of Aden earlier this month by pirates who reportedly demanded a ransom of some $1.4m. | The two were seized in a sailing boat in the Gulf of Aden earlier this month by pirates who reportedly demanded a ransom of some $1.4m. |
| The Somali waters are among the most dangerous in the world. Attacks by pirates are common and hamper the delivery of food aid. | The Somali waters are among the most dangerous in the world. Attacks by pirates are common and hamper the delivery of food aid. |
| A French government statement said that President Nicolas Sarkozy had given the go-ahead for the operation late on Monday. | |
| "The two French nationals are safe and sound," the statement said. | |
| Warships from France and other nations have been patrolling the Somali coast to protect ships carrying aid to the country, where up to a third of the population needs food aid. | Warships from France and other nations have been patrolling the Somali coast to protect ships carrying aid to the country, where up to a third of the population needs food aid. |
| France has a military base in neighbouring Djibouti. | France has a military base in neighbouring Djibouti. |
| In April, French commandos made six arrests in a helicopter raid on Somali pirates after they had been paid a ransom to free the crew of another French yacht. | In April, French commandos made six arrests in a helicopter raid on Somali pirates after they had been paid a ransom to free the crew of another French yacht. |
| Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. | Somalia has not had a functioning national government since 1991. |