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| Hijacked US crew 'retake vessel' | Hijacked US crew 'retake vessel' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The US crew of a ship hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia has apparently retaken control of the vessel, the Pentagon says. | The US crew of a ship hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia has apparently retaken control of the vessel, the Pentagon says. |
| Defence officials were quoted as saying one pirate had been captured by the 20-strong crew of the Maersk Alabama, seized earlier in the Indian Ocean. | Defence officials were quoted as saying one pirate had been captured by the 20-strong crew of the Maersk Alabama, seized earlier in the Indian Ocean. |
| But reports suggest the pirates may still be holding the captain and talks are under way for his release. | |
| It was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in recent days. | It was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in recent days. |
| It is reportedly the first time in 200 years that a US-flagged vessel has been seized by pirates. | It is reportedly the first time in 200 years that a US-flagged vessel has been seized by pirates. |
| Military spokeswoman Lt Col Elizabeth Hibner told Reuters: "It is our understanding that the crew is back in control of the ship." | Military spokeswoman Lt Col Elizabeth Hibner told Reuters: "It is our understanding that the crew is back in control of the ship." |
| The Associated Press later reported that they had spoken to a sailor with an American accent on board the Maersk Alabama who confirmed that the crew had retaken the vessel and one pirate had been captured. | |
| But the unnamed sailor told AP that three of the pirates were now holding the captain hostage in a lifeboat. | But the unnamed sailor told AP that three of the pirates were now holding the captain hostage in a lifeboat. |
| Government officials told the agency that the details were murky and they declined to confirm the report. | |
| Crew 'is safe' | Crew 'is safe' |
| The ship's owners, Maersk, said they could not confirm that the ship had been retaken. | The ship's owners, Maersk, said they could not confirm that the ship had been retaken. |
| But chief executive John Reinhart said contact had been made with the crew. | But chief executive John Reinhart said contact had been made with the crew. |
| "We have a crisis centre and we have vessel managers and superintendents that are working with the vessel at all times," he told a news conference. | "We have a crisis centre and we have vessel managers and superintendents that are working with the vessel at all times," he told a news conference. |
| "We had a cell-phone call from a member of the crew that said the crew is safe." | "We had a cell-phone call from a member of the crew that said the crew is safe." |
| The ship was attacked by several small boats in the early hours of Wednesday in an incident apparently lasting for about five hours. | The ship was attacked by several small boats in the early hours of Wednesday in an incident apparently lasting for about five hours. |
| Maritime officials said the vessel took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. | Maritime officials said the vessel took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. |
| More than 130 pirate attacks were reported in 2008, including almost 50 successful hijacks. | More than 130 pirate attacks were reported in 2008, including almost 50 successful hijacks. |
| Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about £80m (£54m). | Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about £80m (£54m). |
| The huge increase in frequency of attacks has forced several navies to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden to protect one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. | The huge increase in frequency of attacks has forced several navies to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden to protect one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. |