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| French hostages freed off Somalia | French hostages freed off Somalia |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| One French hostage has died and four others have been freed in a rescue operation by French troops on a yacht off Somalia, French officials say. | One French hostage has died and four others have been freed in a rescue operation by French troops on a yacht off Somalia, French officials say. |
| Two pirates were killed in the operation and three were captured, the French presidency says. | Two pirates were killed in the operation and three were captured, the French presidency says. |
| Officials said the rescue was launched when talks with the pirates broke down and threats became "more specific". | |
| Two French couples had been seized with a child, who was among those freed from the yacht, Tanit, seized last week. | Two French couples had been seized with a child, who was among those freed from the yacht, Tanit, seized last week. |
| The operation came after a US captain made an unsuccessful overnight bid to escape from another seized vessel. | The operation came after a US captain made an unsuccessful overnight bid to escape from another seized vessel. |
| Captain Richard Phillips managed to jump overboard off the lifeboat on which he was being held by pirates, US media reported. | Captain Richard Phillips managed to jump overboard off the lifeboat on which he was being held by pirates, US media reported. |
| But his attempt to reach a nearby US military ship was thwarted before it could come to his aid. | But his attempt to reach a nearby US military ship was thwarted before it could come to his aid. |
| US troops in the area are continuing to monitor Mr Phillips's situation. He was captured after a struggle on his ship, Maersk Alabama. | |
| Reports said the French rescue operation was not thought to be in the vicinity of the US fleet and the Maersk Alabama. | Reports said the French rescue operation was not thought to be in the vicinity of the US fleet and the Maersk Alabama. |
| In another development on Friday, pirates released a Norwegian cargo ship, the Bow Asir, and its crew, the vessel's owners said. The Bow Asir had been held since 26 March. | In another development on Friday, pirates released a Norwegian cargo ship, the Bow Asir, and its crew, the vessel's owners said. The Bow Asir had been held since 26 March. |
| Warnings 'unheeded' | Warnings 'unheeded' |
| The French operation to free those on board the Tanit - the third time French troops have freed hostages from pirates - began late on Thursday, five days after the yacht was seized, the office of President Nicolas Sarkozy said. | The French operation to free those on board the Tanit - the third time French troops have freed hostages from pirates - began late on Thursday, five days after the yacht was seized, the office of President Nicolas Sarkozy said. |
| We have got rid of the television and everything that seemed superfluous to concentrate on what is essential Florent Lemacon describing his family's journey | We have got rid of the television and everything that seemed superfluous to concentrate on what is essential Florent Lemacon describing his family's journey |
| Negotiations with the pirates which began earlier this week had failed to secure the release of the hostages, the president's spokesman said. | Negotiations with the pirates which began earlier this week had failed to secure the release of the hostages, the president's spokesman said. |
| When talks broke down troops immobilised the vessel before moving in, the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby reports from Paris. | When talks broke down troops immobilised the vessel before moving in, the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby reports from Paris. |
| "With the threats becoming more and more specific, the pirates refusing the offers made to them and the [yacht] heading towards the coast, an operation to free the hostages was decided upon," he said. | "With the threats becoming more and more specific, the pirates refusing the offers made to them and the [yacht] heading towards the coast, an operation to free the hostages was decided upon," he said. |
| The spokesman confirmed that one of the hostages was killed, but added that the others - including the child - were now "safe and sound". | The spokesman confirmed that one of the hostages was killed, but added that the others - including the child - were now "safe and sound". |
| French Defence Minister Herve Morin said his country had shown determination to oppose piracy. | |
| "France has shown its determination not to give in to blackmail, [to] prosecute the criminal acts and liberate the hostages every time that a ship under a French flag is captured," he said. | |
| Earlier in the week, Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had left open the possibility that troops could launch an effort to free the French hostages, telling reporters French officials knew the location of the Tanit. | |
| However, it also emerged that the families on board the yacht, which was reported to be heading down to Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania, were urged not to travel through the Gulf of Aden. | However, it also emerged that the families on board the yacht, which was reported to be heading down to Zanzibar, off the coast of Tanzania, were urged not to travel through the Gulf of Aden. |
| The region has become a haven for pirates and is the scene of frequent seizures and attacks on international shipping. | The region has become a haven for pirates and is the scene of frequent seizures and attacks on international shipping. |
| After a lull earlier this year, the Maersk Alabama was the sixth ship hijacked off Somalia in the past week. | After a lull earlier this year, the Maersk Alabama was the sixth ship hijacked off Somalia in the past week. |
| Escaping consumerism | Escaping consumerism |
| A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said the couple - named as Chloe and Florent Lemacon - were "repeatedly warned" not to travel through the area. | A spokesman for the French foreign ministry said the couple - named as Chloe and Florent Lemacon - were "repeatedly warned" not to travel through the area. |
| "It is difficult to understand why these warnings were not heeded," spokesman Eric Chevallier said. | "It is difficult to understand why these warnings were not heeded," spokesman Eric Chevallier said. |
| The couple had refurbished the Tanit, a 12.5m (41ft) boat, and given up jobs in a bid to escape consumer society and navigate a route along the African coast to Zanzibar. | The couple had refurbished the Tanit, a 12.5m (41ft) boat, and given up jobs in a bid to escape consumer society and navigate a route along the African coast to Zanzibar. |
| Speaking to French newspaper Ouest France, Mr Lemacon said they wanted to change their priorities in life. | Speaking to French newspaper Ouest France, Mr Lemacon said they wanted to change their priorities in life. |
| "We don't want our child to receive the sort of education that the government is concocting for us. We have got rid of the television and everything that seemed superfluous to concentrate on what is essential," he said. | "We don't want our child to receive the sort of education that the government is concocting for us. We have got rid of the television and everything that seemed superfluous to concentrate on what is essential," he said. |