(Somali) Pirates release French yacht crew

[Eugene]

Source: BBC News

Page last updated at 10:06 GMT, Friday, 11 April 2008 11:06 UK

Pirates release French yacht crew

The crew of a luxury French yacht held by pirates near Somalia
have been freed "without incident", French President Nicolas
Sarkozy has said.

He thanked the French military for their role in freeing the
30 hostages on board The Ponant which was taken in the Gulf
of Aden last Friday.

The 850-tonne, three-masted yacht was sailing back to the
Mediterranean from the Seychelles when it was seized.

-snip-

"The president expresses his deep gratitude to the French armed
forces and all the state services which enabled a rapid and
peaceful solution to this hostage-taking," Mr Sarkozy's statement
said, without giving further details.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7342292.stm

[Eugene]

1. BBC: France raid ship after crew freed

Source: BBC News

Page last updated at 22:01 GMT, Friday, 11 April 2008 23:01 UK

France raid ship after crew freed

French commandoes have carried out a helicopter raid
against a group of Somali pirates soon after they
released 30 hostages from a luxury French yacht.

Gen Jean-Louis Georgelin said troops moved in after
the Ponant came ashore, seized six pirates and
probably found part of a ransom paid by its owners.

Local officials said at least three people died in
the raid, but France denied there had been any
casualties.

The 850-tonne boat and its 30 crew were seized in
the Gulf of Aden last Friday.

-snip-

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7342292.stm

[maddezmom]

2. 2 million dollars paid to free hostages off Somalia: source

2 million dollars paid to free hostages off Somalia: source
04-11-2008, 15h22
PARIS (AFP)



This picture released on April 7, 2008 by the French Defence Ministry shows the French luxury yacht "Le Ponant" in the Indian Ocean. The owner of a French luxury sailing boat paid some two million dollars (1.3 million euros) for the release of 30 crew members taken hostage off Somalia, a source close to the negotiations said Friday.
(AFP/File)

The owner of a French luxury sailing boat paid some two million dollars (1.3 million euros) for the release of 30 crew members taken hostage off Somalia, a source close to the negotiations said Friday.

French special forces handled the negotiations between the shipowner and the pirates who had taken the crew hostage, the source said.


more:http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?id=225123

[ohio2007]

3. Piracy pays...for some but not all ( hazard of being a pirate )

Pirates Captured After Hostage Release.
French military officials captured six pirates who had seized a luxury yacht off the Somali coast. While French officials said no public money was spent on a ransom, they indicated the ship’s owner had paid a sum.


http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=6bd_1207991304