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| Somali pirates free Asian sailors | Somali pirates free Asian sailors |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The crew of a South Korean ship hijacked by pirates last month off the coast of Somalia has been freed. | The crew of a South Korean ship hijacked by pirates last month off the coast of Somalia has been freed. |
| A spokesman for the South Korean foreign ministry refused to say whether a ransom had been paid. | A spokesman for the South Korean foreign ministry refused to say whether a ransom had been paid. |
| The captives included eight South Koreans and 14 Burmese nationals, all said to be unharmed. | The captives included eight South Koreans and 14 Burmese nationals, all said to be unharmed. |
| The government in Seoul is considering sending naval vessels to the area, following recent decisions by Nato and the EU to send ships. | The government in Seoul is considering sending naval vessels to the area, following recent decisions by Nato and the EU to send ships. |
| The South Korean cargo vessel was hijacked on 10 September and is one of more than a dozen vessels seized off the coast of Somalia, one of the world's busiest waterways. | The South Korean cargo vessel was hijacked on 10 September and is one of more than a dozen vessels seized off the coast of Somalia, one of the world's busiest waterways. |
| The freed sailors are being transferred to a US Navy ship in the Gulf of Aden, and are expected to arrive home on 26 October, the South Korean spokesman said. | |
| US warships have surrounded a different ship seized by Somali pirates - the Ukrainian MV Faina, which is carrying 33 tanks. | |
| Pirates are demanding a $20m (£11m) ransom for the release of the MV Faina, which was also seized last month. | |
| Piracy off the coast of Somalia is estimated to have cost up to $30m (£17m) in ransoms so far this year, according to a recent report. | Piracy off the coast of Somalia is estimated to have cost up to $30m (£17m) in ransoms so far this year, according to a recent report. |
| The Nato military alliance has dispatched 7 naval vessels to the area. The European Union and the Indian government have also pledged ships for anti-piracy operations. | The Nato military alliance has dispatched 7 naval vessels to the area. The European Union and the Indian government have also pledged ships for anti-piracy operations. |
| Somalia has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered continual civil strife, with rival armed clans and groups fighting for control. | Somalia has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered continual civil strife, with rival armed clans and groups fighting for control. |
| Human Rights Watch says Somalia is the most ignored tragedy in the world. | Human Rights Watch says Somalia is the most ignored tragedy in the world. |