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Saudi tanker 'freed off Somalia' Saudi tanker 'freed off Somalia'
(19 minutes later)
A Saudi super-tanker that was captured by Somali pirates in November carrying two million barrels of oil has been released, reports quoting pirates say.A Saudi super-tanker that was captured by Somali pirates in November carrying two million barrels of oil has been released, reports quoting pirates say.
A regional maritime group also said pirates had left the Sirius Star, which was now moving to "safe waters", Reuters news agency reported.A regional maritime group also said pirates had left the Sirius Star, which was now moving to "safe waters", Reuters news agency reported.
One unconfirmed report says that a $3m (£1.95m) ransom was paid, although the ship's owner refused to comment. A negotiator for the pirates told the BBC a $3m (£1.95m) ransom was paid. The ship's owner has refused to comment.
The vessel, with 25 crew, is the biggest tanker ever to be hijacked.The vessel, with 25 crew, is the biggest tanker ever to be hijacked.
The audacious seizure drew fresh attention to the dangerous waters off Somalia's coastline. All our people have now left the Sirius Star. The ship is free, the crew is free Somali pirate, Mohamed Said The audacious seizure drew fresh attention to the dangerous waters off Somalia's coastline.
All our people have now left the Sirius Star. The ship is free, the crew is free Somali pirate, Mohamed Said
There were more than 100 reported pirate attacks in the busy shipping lanes off eastern and northern Somalia last year.There were more than 100 reported pirate attacks in the busy shipping lanes off eastern and northern Somalia last year.
An international force headed by the US is due to be established by the end of the month to tackle the problem.An international force headed by the US is due to be established by the end of the month to tackle the problem.
'Usual asking price''Usual asking price'
"All our people have now left the Sirius Star. The ship is free, the crew is free," Mohamed Said, one of the leaders of the pirate group, told the AFP news agency."All our people have now left the Sirius Star. The ship is free, the crew is free," Mohamed Said, one of the leaders of the pirate group, told the AFP news agency.
The departure of the pirates from the ship was confirmed by the Kenyan-based East African Seafarers' Assistance programme. The Kenyan-based East African Seafarers' Assistance programme said the tanker was on the move.
"The last batch of gunmen have disembarked from the Sirius Star," said Andrew Mwangura. "She is now steaming out to safe waters." "The last batch of gunmen have disembarked from the Sirius Star," Andrew Mwangura told Reuters. "She is now steaming out to safe waters."
A man described as an associate of the pirates said they had received the $3m ransom payment. The release took place at midday, according one of the negotiators for the Somali pirates, who spoke by phone to the BBC's Mohamed Olad Hassan in the capital, Mogadishu.
"Pirates holding the Saudi ship took $3m yesterday evening and then released the ship this morning," Farah Osman told Reuters news agency. The negotiator said the pirates had disembarked from the Sirius Star and were heading back to their homes in central Somalia, and the vessel's crew was safe.
But the owner of the Sirius Star refused to confirm or deny any details when contacted by the BBC. The pirates agreed on Thursday night to accept a ransom of $3m from the ship's owners, although they had wanted more, he added.
The owner of the Sirius Star refused to confirm or deny any details when contacted by the BBC.
The Sirius Star was carrying $100m worth of oil- a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - when it was seized 450 nautical miles south-east of Kenya.The Sirius Star was carrying $100m worth of oil- a quarter of Saudi Arabia's daily output - when it was seized 450 nautical miles south-east of Kenya.
One of the pirates, calling himself Daybad, told the BBC by telephone at the time that they had no intention of harming the crew.One of the pirates, calling himself Daybad, told the BBC by telephone at the time that they had no intention of harming the crew.
He admitted they were negotiating a ransom of "the usual asking price", but denied reports it was up to $25m (£16.6m).He admitted they were negotiating a ransom of "the usual asking price", but denied reports it was up to $25m (£16.6m).
And he blamed the lack of peace in Somalia and the plunder of its waters by foreign fishing trawlers for their move into piracy.And he blamed the lack of peace in Somalia and the plunder of its waters by foreign fishing trawlers for their move into piracy.
The ship's captain, Marek Nishky, was allowed to speak to the BBC under the scrutiny of his captors, and said there was "not a reason for complaints".The ship's captain, Marek Nishky, was allowed to speak to the BBC under the scrutiny of his captors, and said there was "not a reason for complaints".