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| Pirates release ship for 'ransom' | Pirates release ship for 'ransom' |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Somali pirates have released a Togo-flagged cargo ship seized last week, reportedly after a $100,000 (£68,000) ransom was paid. | Somali pirates have released a Togo-flagged cargo ship seized last week, reportedly after a $100,000 (£68,000) ransom was paid. |
| The 5,000-tonne Lebanese-owned MV Sea Horse was taken by gunmen in several skiffs on 14 April east of Mogadishu. | |
| The ship had been heading to Mumbai, India, to pick up food aid for Somalia. | |
| Nineteen foreign vessels and more than 300 sailors remain in the hands of Somali pirates, who have stepped up attacks on shipping in recent weeks. | Nineteen foreign vessels and more than 300 sailors remain in the hands of Somali pirates, who have stepped up attacks on shipping in recent weeks. |
| About three million people - half the Somali population - need assistance, donors say. | |
| "Somali traders were involved in the release of this ship. They mediated and paid some money. I think it was not more than $100,000," a source told Reuters news agency by telephone. | "Somali traders were involved in the release of this ship. They mediated and paid some money. I think it was not more than $100,000," a source told Reuters news agency by telephone. |
| Islam says if you become a pirate you should definitely be killed because you are killing the people Abdurrahman Haji AdamDeputy prime minister Somali piracy: Global overview | Islam says if you become a pirate you should definitely be killed because you are killing the people Abdurrahman Haji AdamDeputy prime minister Somali piracy: Global overview |
| The World Food Programme said the cargo ship had been released on Friday. | The World Food Programme said the cargo ship had been released on Friday. |
| At the weekend, Nato foiled two pirate attacks - the latest in a string of successful Western military operations against the gangs. | At the weekend, Nato foiled two pirate attacks - the latest in a string of successful Western military operations against the gangs. |
| Cat and mouse | Cat and mouse |
| Warships and helicopters prevented an attempt by raiders to board a Norwegian tanker after a seven-hour overnight pursuit in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday. | Warships and helicopters prevented an attempt by raiders to board a Norwegian tanker after a seven-hour overnight pursuit in the Gulf of Aden on Sunday. |
| Somali pirates seized their first Belgian ship at the weekend | Somali pirates seized their first Belgian ship at the weekend |
| And the day before, Dutch commandos freed 20 pirate hostages from Yemen. | And the day before, Dutch commandos freed 20 pirate hostages from Yemen. |
| But sea brigands also managed to seize a Belgian ship - the MV Pompei - on Saturday and were steering it towards the Somali coast. | But sea brigands also managed to seize a Belgian ship - the MV Pompei - on Saturday and were steering it towards the Somali coast. |
| The first Belgian ship to be seized by Somali pirates, its crew include a Dutch captain, two Belgians, three Filipinos and four Croatians. | The first Belgian ship to be seized by Somali pirates, its crew include a Dutch captain, two Belgians, three Filipinos and four Croatians. |
| On Sunday, the Somali government said captured pirates could face the death penalty. | On Sunday, the Somali government said captured pirates could face the death penalty. |
| "Becoming a pirate is a crime, and Islam says if you become a pirate you should definitely be killed because you are killing the people," said Somalia's deputy prime minister, Abdurrahman Haji Adam, reported AP news agency. "We will announce it immediately." | "Becoming a pirate is a crime, and Islam says if you become a pirate you should definitely be killed because you are killing the people," said Somalia's deputy prime minister, Abdurrahman Haji Adam, reported AP news agency. "We will announce it immediately." |
| However, the internationally recognised government only controls a small part of the capital and little other territory. | However, the internationally recognised government only controls a small part of the capital and little other territory. |
| About a dozen ships have been hijacked since the start of April, despite the presence of around 20 foreign naval vessels in the area. | About a dozen ships have been hijacked since the start of April, despite the presence of around 20 foreign naval vessels in the area. |
| Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to the gangs. | Shipping companies last year handed over about $80m (£54m) in ransom payments to the gangs. |
| The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed piracy to thrive. | The Horn of Africa nation has been without an effective government since 1991, fuelling the lawlessness which has allowed piracy to thrive. |
| In the maritime game of cat and mouse, international naval patrols struggle to cover the vast areas of ocean where the gangs operate. | In the maritime game of cat and mouse, international naval patrols struggle to cover the vast areas of ocean where the gangs operate. |