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| Pirates seize N Korea tanker crew | Pirates seize N Korea tanker crew |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A chemical tanker with a crew of 28 North Koreans has been hijacked by pirates in waters off Somalia, the EU's naval force (Navfor) says. | A chemical tanker with a crew of 28 North Koreans has been hijacked by pirates in waters off Somalia, the EU's naval force (Navfor) says. |
| The MV Theresa VIII, a Singaporean-operated tanker, was taken on Monday in the south Somali Basin, 180 nautical miles north-west of the Seychelles. | The MV Theresa VIII, a Singaporean-operated tanker, was taken on Monday in the south Somali Basin, 180 nautical miles north-west of the Seychelles. |
| It had been heading for Mombasa, Kenya, but was diverted north, Navfor said. | It had been heading for Mombasa, Kenya, but was diverted north, Navfor said. |
| Meanwhile, pirates holding a Spanish trawler say they are freeing it for a ransom of at least $3.5m (£2.1m). | Meanwhile, pirates holding a Spanish trawler say they are freeing it for a ransom of at least $3.5m (£2.1m). |
| The Alakrana, a tuna boat, was hijacked last month along with its crew of 36, including 16 Spaniards, eight Indonesians and others from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Senegal and the Seychelles. | The Alakrana, a tuna boat, was hijacked last month along with its crew of 36, including 16 Spaniards, eight Indonesians and others from Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Senegal and the Seychelles. |
| The trawler, which is based in the Spanish Basque Country, was seized 400 nautical miles north-west of the Seychelles island of Mahe, according to coast guards. | The trawler, which is based in the Spanish Basque Country, was seized 400 nautical miles north-west of the Seychelles island of Mahe, according to coast guards. |
| Somali pirates, using "mother ships" to launch their small-boat attacks on vessels, have extended their range to an area off the Seychelles in recent months in order to evade the navies patrolling the Horn of Africa. | Somali pirates, using "mother ships" to launch their small-boat attacks on vessels, have extended their range to an area off the Seychelles in recent months in order to evade the navies patrolling the Horn of Africa. |
| Pirates driven off | Pirates driven off |
| The MV Theresa VIII, the owner of which is based in the Virgin Islands, is a tanker of 22,294 deadweight tonnes, said Navfor, the EU naval force operating in the region to protect shipping. | The MV Theresa VIII, the owner of which is based in the Virgin Islands, is a tanker of 22,294 deadweight tonnes, said Navfor, the EU naval force operating in the region to protect shipping. |
| It has emerged that guards aboard a Ukrainian cargo ship, the MV Lady Juliet, successfully fought off pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. | It has emerged that guards aboard a Ukrainian cargo ship, the MV Lady Juliet, successfully fought off pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. |
| Pirates firing Kalashnikov assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades approached the vessel from their mother ship but came under return fire from a Navfor detachment protecting the ship. | Pirates firing Kalashnikov assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades approached the vessel from their mother ship but came under return fire from a Navfor detachment protecting the ship. |
| Navfor supplies vulnerable ships with armed guards under certain circumstances. | Navfor supplies vulnerable ships with armed guards under certain circumstances. |
| Nobody was hurt aboard the Lady Juliet, which bears a St Vincent and The Grenadines flag, and any casualties among the pirates could not be confirmed. | Nobody was hurt aboard the Lady Juliet, which bears a St Vincent and The Grenadines flag, and any casualties among the pirates could not be confirmed. |
| More than 10 ships and 200 hostages are currently being held by pirates operating in waters off Somalia. | More than 10 ships and 200 hostages are currently being held by pirates operating in waters off Somalia. |
| Many of the pirates began as fishermen and say they are stopping illegal foreign fishing boats stealing Somali fish, BBC international development correspondent Mark Doyle reports. | Many of the pirates began as fishermen and say they are stopping illegal foreign fishing boats stealing Somali fish, BBC international development correspondent Mark Doyle reports. |
| The upsurge in piracy in the region is a consequence of the failure to find a solution to Somalia's political disputes, our correspondent notes. | The upsurge in piracy in the region is a consequence of the failure to find a solution to Somalia's political disputes, our correspondent notes. |
| The weak central government faces an Islamist insurgency and parts of the country have broken away to form autonomous regions. | The weak central government faces an Islamist insurgency and parts of the country have broken away to form autonomous regions. |
| 'Trawler deal' | 'Trawler deal' |
| Pirate spokesmen who spoke by telephone to news agencies on Tuesday said they expected to leave the Alakrana shortly. | Pirate spokesmen who spoke by telephone to news agencies on Tuesday said they expected to leave the Alakrana shortly. |
| Families and friends of the Alakrana's crew held a demonstration this month to demand their return | Families and friends of the Alakrana's crew held a demonstration this month to demand their return |
| One told AFP a ransom of $4m (£2.8m) had already been paid by Spain, while another told Reuters that a sum of $3.5m had been agreed upon. | One told AFP a ransom of $4m (£2.8m) had already been paid by Spain, while another told Reuters that a sum of $3.5m had been agreed upon. |
| There was no confirmation from the Spanish government that a deal had been struck. | There was no confirmation from the Spanish government that a deal had been struck. |
| Pirate spokesman Said Abdulle told AFP that the ship was "technically free". | Pirate spokesman Said Abdulle told AFP that the ship was "technically free". |
| "We're in the process of checking the money," he added, speaking from Harardhere in northern Somalia. | |
| A pirate who gave his name as Nor told Reuters that most of his "colleagues" had left the Spanish ship and it could be freed "some time" on Tuesday. | A pirate who gave his name as Nor told Reuters that most of his "colleagues" had left the Spanish ship and it could be freed "some time" on Tuesday. |
| The Alakrana's skipper, Ricardo Blach, earlier told Spanish radio by phone that he expected the hijacking to end within hours. | The Alakrana's skipper, Ricardo Blach, earlier told Spanish radio by phone that he expected the hijacking to end within hours. |
| He said there 63 pirates aboard the trawler, including the leaders of the clan behind the hijacking. | He said there 63 pirates aboard the trawler, including the leaders of the clan behind the hijacking. |