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Pirates release French yacht crew Pirates release French yacht crew
(about 2 hours later)
The crew of a luxury French yacht held by pirates near Somalia have been freed and six pirates captured, the French military says.The crew of a luxury French yacht held by pirates near Somalia have been freed and six pirates captured, the French military says.
The 30 hostages, most of them French, were on board the Ponant, which was seized in the Gulf of Aden on Friday.The 30 hostages, most of them French, were on board the Ponant, which was seized in the Gulf of Aden on Friday.
Gen Jean-Louis Georgelin told reporters they were freed after talks between the boat-owners and the pirates.Gen Jean-Louis Georgelin told reporters they were freed after talks between the boat-owners and the pirates.
He said public funds were not used to pay a ransom but hinted that the boat-owners may have handed over money.He said public funds were not used to pay a ransom but hinted that the boat-owners may have handed over money.
The 850-tonne three-masted yacht was returning to the Mediterranean from the Seychelles when it was captured. The 850-tonne three-masted yacht was returning to the Mediterranean from the Seychelles when it was seized.
'Interesting bags''Interesting bags'
Gen Georgelin told a news conference that in the operation to capture the pirates, troops had recovered "interesting bags" and "some of the ransom that had probably been paid." Gen Georgelin, head of the French armed forces general staff, told a news conference that in the operation to capture the pirates, troops had recovered "interesting bags" and "some of the ransom that had probably been paid."
He said negotiations had taken place by radio between the boat-owners - a subsidiary of CMA-CGM - and the pirates. A source quoted by AFP news agency suggested $2m (£1m) may have been paid in ransom money.
A witness in Somalia told Reuters news agency he saw six helicopters attacking the pirates who were responding with machine-gun fire. Gen Georgelin said negotiations to free those held had taken place by radio between the boat-owners - a subsidiary of the CMA-CGM company - and the pirates.
The French presidency, in a statement, denied assertions by a Somali official that local Somalis were killed in the operation. As the pirates later made their escape by car in the Somali region of Mudug, they were intercepted by French forces in four helicopters, he said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier thanked the French military for their role in ending the crisis. Gen Georgelin added that the pirates were not directly fired upon and those captured would be handed over to French justice officials.
The governor of Mudug, Abdul Kadir Ahmed, said three bodies had been recovered after the operation.
The French presidency has strongly denied that anyone was killed. President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier thanked the French military for their role in ending the crisis.
"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."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.
France has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multi-national naval force that patrols this part of the Indian Ocean.
ThreatThreat
France has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multi-national naval force that patrols this part of the Indian Ocean.
Somali coastal waters are known to be among the most hazardous in the world.Somali coastal waters are known to be among the most hazardous in the world.
More than 25 ships were seized there by pirates in 2007.More than 25 ships were seized there by pirates in 2007.
The threat from pirates prompted France to order its navy, in November last year, to escort two ships carrying food aid to Somalia.The threat from pirates prompted France to order its navy, in November last year, to escort two ships carrying food aid to Somalia.
In November 2005, pirates attempted to board a cruise ship carrying 600 passengers off the Somali coast.In November 2005, pirates attempted to board a cruise ship carrying 600 passengers off the Somali coast.
Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity.Somalia has not had an effective central government for more than 17 years and is plagued by insecurity.