Pirates to Release U.N. Ship, 10 Hostages
From Times Wire Reports
Somali pirates who have been holding 10 hostages on a ship chartered by the United Nations’ World Food Program have agreed to release the vessel and crew.
The pirates seized the Semlow on June 27 as it headed for the northern port of Bossaso carrying 850 tons of rice. They demanded a $500,000 ransom but later reduced that to demand the rice.
Diplomats and local leaders held talks Friday in the city of Jawhar. The WFP said the hijackers had agreed to release the ship and rice in El Maan.
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