Pirates Seek Ransom for Asian Fishermen

Dozens of Asian fishermen and their three vessels are being held hostage in Somalia by pirates who have demanded a $1.5 million ransom, officials said.

Taiwan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has said that the Somali gunmen threatened Friday to start killing one hostage a day if the ransom was not paid within 48 hours. The hostages consist of three Taiwanese captains and 45 crew members from Indonesia, China, the Philippines and Vietnam who have been held near the southern port of Kismayo since Aug. 15.

Somali human rights groups are trying to negotiate their release. Somalia has been without an effective central government since warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991.