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Somalia 'trying to locate yacht' Somalia 'trying to locate yacht'
(about 1 hour later)
The Somali government has said it is doing everything it can to locate the missing British couple thought to have been captured by Somali pirates. The Somali government has said it is doing everything it can to locate the missing British couple thought to have been captured by pirates.
Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 58 and 55, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, sent a distress signal on Friday from the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles. Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 59 and 55, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, sent a distress signal on Friday from the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles.
Prime Minister Omar Ali Sharmarke said he had discussed the case with the UK foreign secretary, David Miliband.Prime Minister Omar Ali Sharmarke said he had discussed the case with the UK foreign secretary, David Miliband.
He told the BBC the government would eradicate Somali piracy by 2011.He told the BBC the government would eradicate Somali piracy by 2011.
A possible sighting of the couple's yacht 200 miles from Somalia is being investigated. A possible sighting of the couple's yacht, 200 miles to the east of the Somali port of Haradheere on Tuesday, is being investigated.
Mr and Mrs Chandler were heading on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante Islands en route to Tanzania in their yacht the Lynn Rival when they used the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. 'Fingers crossed'
Mr and Mrs Chandler were heading on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante Islands en route to Tanzania in their yacht the Lynn Rival when they used the distress beacon.
The route would have taken the couple near Somali waters which are notorious for pirate attacks on ships and smaller boats.The route would have taken the couple near Somali waters which are notorious for pirate attacks on ships and smaller boats.
A Somali pirate told Reuters news agency they had captured the couple and they were healthy but ransom demands would follow.
The couple's family have expressed hope that the pair are safe.
Stephen Collett, of Ixworth, Suffolk, who is the brother of Mrs Chandler, said the family were "keeping their fingers crossed".
A yacht similar to the Lynn Rival has been spotted 200 miles from Somalia
"It may still be that they're sailing across the Indian Ocean. We're not grossly over-worried at the moment."
Mr Chandler's sister, Jill Marshment, 69, of Bredon, Worcestershire, said the couple were unlikely to have money for a ransom.
"All their money is literally sunk in that boat as far as I know," she said.
"They haven't got wealth, they are just an ordinary couple enjoying early retirement, to do what they've always wanted to do."
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it still could not confirm whether pirates were involved.
The European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) said it had located a yacht at about 1500 GMT on Tuesday, but did not want to give the family "false hope".
Commander John Harbour, spokesman for EU NAVFOR, said the yacht was continuing to sail towards the Somali port of Haradheere and was still being monitored.
"We still have the yacht in sight but still can't confirm that it is the Lynn Rival," he said.
Paul and Rachel Chandler were on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante IslandsPaul and Rachel Chandler were on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante Islands