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| Couple's ransom demand 'imminent' | Couple's ransom demand 'imminent' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A ransom demand for a British couple being held by Somali pirates is to be made later, the BBC has learnt. | A ransom demand for a British couple being held by Somali pirates is to be made later, the BBC has learnt. |
| Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 59 and 55, from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, were taken hostage by gunmen in the Indian Ocean in the early hours of 23 October. | Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 59 and 55, from Tunbridge Wells in Kent, were taken hostage by gunmen in the Indian Ocean in the early hours of 23 October. |
| They had been travelling to Tanzania from the Seychelles and their yacht was later found in international waters. | They had been travelling to Tanzania from the Seychelles and their yacht was later found in international waters. |
| BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross said pirates were holding discussions and a demand was "imminent". | BBC East Africa correspondent Will Ross said pirates were holding discussions and a demand was "imminent". |
| He reported that one of the men holding the couple said the demand would possibly be issued later on Friday. | He reported that one of the men holding the couple said the demand would possibly be issued later on Friday. |
| The UK government's emergency committee Cobra has met in the cabinet office to discuss the latest developments in the Chandlers' kidnapping. | The UK government's emergency committee Cobra has met in the cabinet office to discuss the latest developments in the Chandlers' kidnapping. |
| The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner has been told by Whitehall officials that the government has appointed a hostage negotiator who is on standby to deal with the case if called on. | |
| Treatment 'OK' | Treatment 'OK' |
| Armed Somali pirates boarded the couple's yacht, the Lynn Rival, in the Indian Ocean while they slept. | Armed Somali pirates boarded the couple's yacht, the Lynn Rival, in the Indian Ocean while they slept. |
| Mr Chandler, speaking by phone to the BBC's Somali Service on Thursday, said they were well and being treated OK. | Mr Chandler, speaking by phone to the BBC's Somali Service on Thursday, said they were well and being treated OK. |
| The couple were travelling from the Seychelles to Tanzania | The couple were travelling from the Seychelles to Tanzania |
| The pirates forced the pair to sail towards Somalia after their boat was captured. | The pirates forced the pair to sail towards Somalia after their boat was captured. |
| Searches for the Chandlers began on 23 October after they sent a distress signal. | Searches for the Chandlers began on 23 October after they sent a distress signal. |
| Mr Chandler has said the couple were being held on a Singapore-registered container ship called the Kota Wajah seized by the pirates earlier this month. | Mr Chandler has said the couple were being held on a Singapore-registered container ship called the Kota Wajah seized by the pirates earlier this month. |
| Local fishermen then reported seeing the couple being taken to the village of Ceel Huur, near the pirate stronghold Harardhere. | Local fishermen then reported seeing the couple being taken to the village of Ceel Huur, near the pirate stronghold Harardhere. |
| A spokesman for the pirates, who identified himself only as Abdinor, told the Press Association the couple would be moved from land back to a ship anchored off the eastern coast of Somalia. | A spokesman for the pirates, who identified himself only as Abdinor, told the Press Association the couple would be moved from land back to a ship anchored off the eastern coast of Somalia. |
| The pirates believed it would be safer for the couple to be kept on a ship with other hostages, he said. | The pirates believed it would be safer for the couple to be kept on a ship with other hostages, he said. |
| Commander John Harbour, spokesman for the European Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR), said the pirates usually secure the vessel they have captured then contact the ship's owner to start negotiations. | Commander John Harbour, spokesman for the European Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR), said the pirates usually secure the vessel they have captured then contact the ship's owner to start negotiations. |
| He said the pirates often take trade ships but have recently seized a couple of yachts, taking the crews prisoner. | He said the pirates often take trade ships but have recently seized a couple of yachts, taking the crews prisoner. |
| "They know lives are worth a lot of money," he added. | "They know lives are worth a lot of money," he added. |
| He warned that negotiations can take months. | He warned that negotiations can take months. |