Four Days Later and Pirates Demand $1M

Created by sue. Last modified on 2008-06-27 12:44:54
Countries: Somalia

The ordeal continues for the German couple who were kidnapped from their yacht last Monday after running out of fuel off the Northern coast of Somalia.

Associated Press reports that a Somali government minister says Somali gunmen have demanded US$1 million for the release of the couple, and confirmed that they are also holding the couple’s young son and French boat captain.

The condition of the captives is not clear. A clan elder who is helping negotiate says the boy is suffering from a fever and needs medical help.

Conflicting reports have been emanating from the region as the pirates initially claimed they had only the German couple as hostages.

“The foreigners invaded our waters,” a spokesperson for the group said.

This is the first instance of a small cruising yacht's non-professional crew being held hostage. Up to 100 small yachts make the Red Sea transit each year, most with short-handed crew - usually families - with or without children.

See the first report of this story here
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