Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Somali pirates say Belgian ship to be freed

* Pirate says Pompei vessel to be released imminently

* Seven Europeans, three Filipinos on board


Somali pirate sources said on Tuesday they were on the verge of releasing a Belgian dredging vessel and its 10-man crew captured in mid-April.

"Negotiations to release the ship have been under way for more than 20 days," a pirate, who gave his name as Mohamed Ali, told Reuters by satellite phone from the Pompei off Somalia.

"At last it has been wrapped up and a ransom of $2.8 million agreed."

The vessel was taken on April 18 en route to the Seychelles, with two Belgians, four Croatians, one Dutchman and three Filipinos on board.

Ali said the boat could be released as early as Wednesday, though other pirate sources say it may take a day or two more.

A regional piracy monitoring group, the East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme, said a shortage of fuel could delay the release until the end of the week.

"For sure it will be released soon," the group's coordinator, Andrew Mwangura, told Reuters. "It should be free by the 27th. I have heard about a ransom, but not how much."

The Somali gangs, who have been marauding in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean for several years, are still holding a dozen other boats, with nearly 200 crew members, according to the International Maritime Bureau's latest figures.

They have seized 31 boats so far this year in 143 attacks, compared to 42 in 111 raids throughout last year. (Reporting by Mohamed Ahmed in Mogadishu, Andrew Cawthorne in Nairobi)

Source: Reuters

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