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| Yacht man tells of pirate kidnap | Yacht man tells of pirate kidnap |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| A British man has told how he and his wife were kidnapped by armed pirates while the pair slept aboard their yacht in the Indian Ocean. | A British man has told how he and his wife were kidnapped by armed pirates while the pair slept aboard their yacht in the Indian Ocean. |
| Paul Chandler, of Kent, speaking by phone to ITV news, said: "I was asleep and men with guns came aboard." | Paul Chandler, of Kent, speaking by phone to ITV news, said: "I was asleep and men with guns came aboard." |
| Mr Chandler, 59, said he and his wife, Rachel, 55, are currently being held hostage on board a container ship. | Mr Chandler, 59, said he and his wife, Rachel, 55, are currently being held hostage on board a container ship. |
| Their yacht was found during counter-piracy operations after a major multi-national search for the pair began. | Their yacht was found during counter-piracy operations after a major multi-national search for the pair began. |
| 'No ransom demand' | 'No ransom demand' |
| Mr Chandler, from Tunbridge Wells, said the raid had come in the early hours. | Mr Chandler, from Tunbridge Wells, said the raid had come in the early hours. |
| He said: "I was off watch. I was asleep and men with guns came aboard. It was on Friday last week at 0230." | He said: "I was off watch. I was asleep and men with guns came aboard. It was on Friday last week at 0230." |
| The kidnapped man's brother-in-law, Stephen Collett, 58, of Ixworth, Suffolk, has confirmed that the voice in the phone call was that of Mr Chandler. | The kidnapped man's brother-in-law, Stephen Collett, 58, of Ixworth, Suffolk, has confirmed that the voice in the phone call was that of Mr Chandler. |
| Paul and Rachel are blameless tourists Foreign Office | Paul and Rachel are blameless tourists Foreign Office |
| The armed pirates forced the pair to sail towards Somalia after their boat was captured. | The armed pirates forced the pair to sail towards Somalia after their boat was captured. |
| Searches for the Chandlers began on Friday after the pair sent a distress signal. | Searches for the Chandlers began on Friday after the pair sent a distress signal. |
| Mr Chandler said the couple were being held hostage on a Singapore-registered container ship called the Kota Wajah. He was speaking from the captain's cabin at 1100 GMT (1400 local time). | |
| He said their captors had not officially asked for a ransom. | He said their captors had not officially asked for a ransom. |
| "They kept asking for money and took everything of value on the boat," he added. | "They kept asking for money and took everything of value on the boat," he added. |
| Mr Chandler said they were being held hostage on the container ship. | |
| He said the vessel was then about a mile off the coast of Somalia, and the nearest town was Ubdu. Correspondents say he may have been referring to Hobyo. | |
| 'Luxury vehicles' | 'Luxury vehicles' |
| He was asked how they were being treated, but the line was lost before Mr Chandler could answer. | He was asked how they were being treated, but the line was lost before Mr Chandler could answer. |
| Local fishermen reported seeing the pair being taken to a village in Somalia after the telephone call. | Local fishermen reported seeing the pair being taken to a village in Somalia after the telephone call. |
| One of the fishermen, Dahir Dabadhahan, said two boats arrived in the village of Ceel Huur, near the pirate stronghold Harardheere, and were met by a convoy of about 30 other pirates in six luxury vehicles. | One of the fishermen, Dahir Dabadhahan, said two boats arrived in the village of Ceel Huur, near the pirate stronghold Harardheere, and were met by a convoy of about 30 other pirates in six luxury vehicles. |
| He said: "The pirates opened fire into the air, waving us to move away." | He said: "The pirates opened fire into the air, waving us to move away." |
| A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Hostage taking is never justified. | A spokeswoman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said: "Hostage taking is never justified. |
| The couple were travelling from the Seychelles to Tanzania | The couple were travelling from the Seychelles to Tanzania |
| "Paul and Rachel are blameless tourists and they should be released immediately and unconditionally. | "Paul and Rachel are blameless tourists and they should be released immediately and unconditionally. |
| "The families are deeply concerned for the safety of their loved ones. | "The families are deeply concerned for the safety of their loved ones. |
| "Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff are in close contact with them and are offering support." | "Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff are in close contact with them and are offering support." |
| Whitehall officials said Cobra, the Cabinet Office crisis management team, had met several times over the kidnapping of the Chandlers. | Whitehall officials said Cobra, the Cabinet Office crisis management team, had met several times over the kidnapping of the Chandlers. |
| Earlier, the Ministry of Defence said the couple's empty yacht had been found but there was no reason to suspect they had come to harm. | |
| A spokesman said Royal Navy vessels operating with international partners under EU, Nato and combined maritime forces would continue to play a full role in efforts to secure their release. | A spokesman said Royal Navy vessels operating with international partners under EU, Nato and combined maritime forces would continue to play a full role in efforts to secure their release. |
| Relatives of the Chandlers met the Somali premier Omar Sharmarke in London on Wednesday who told them he would do anything to "see a peaceful solution". | Relatives of the Chandlers met the Somali premier Omar Sharmarke in London on Wednesday who told them he would do anything to "see a peaceful solution". |
| The Somali government - which only has nominal authority in large parts of the country - said it was doing everything possible to locate them. | The Somali government - which only has nominal authority in large parts of the country - said it was doing everything possible to locate them. |
| Mr and Mrs Chandler had been sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania. | Mr and Mrs Chandler had been sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania. |