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Somali pirates free Greek tanker Somali pirates free Greek tanker
(2 days later)
Somali pirates have freed a Greek-owned oil tanker, a day after one of the largest ransoms ever paid was delivered to the ship, pirates and officials say. Somali pirates have freed a Greek-owned oil tanker, a day after one of the largest ransoms ever paid was delivered to the ship, officials say.
The Maran Centaurus, one of the largest oil tankers ever seized, was captured on 29 November with 28 crew members.The Maran Centaurus, one of the largest oil tankers ever seized, was captured on 29 November with 28 crew members.
A ransom of between $5.5m (£3.4m) and $7m (£4.3m) was dropped on the deck of the supertanker. A ransom of between $5.5m and $7m (£3.4m-£4.3m) was dropped on the deck of the supertanker.
The money was said to have sparked an argument among the pirates and delayed the release of the ship. The money sparked an argument among the pirates and it is believed that at least one of the hijackers has died.
"She's free. She's preparing to sail out" from Harardhere, Andrew Mwangura, of the East African Seafarers Assistance Programme, told the AFP news agency. The BBC's Somali Service has reports that as many as three pirates have died.
One pirate said the argument about the ransom money had been resolved. Residents of the Somali port town of Harardere said there were bodies in the streets after fierce infighting.
"We have agreed to solve our disagreements and release the ship. It is free and sailing away now," one of the pirates, Hassan, told Reuters news agency by telephone. "I saw one dead body and two wounded but the final death toll may be more," town resident Abdullahi Haji Mohamed told the AFP news agency.
"The crew are all safe." The European Naval forces confirmed to the BBC that there had been clashes delaying the release of the tanker, which is now under naval escort as it sails to South Africa.
Lawless coastLawless coast
When it was hijacked, the Maran Centaurus was sailing near the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, about 1,300km (800 miles) off Somalia.When it was hijacked, the Maran Centaurus was sailing near the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, about 1,300km (800 miles) off Somalia.
Its crew is made up of 16 Filipinos, nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and one Romanian.Its crew is made up of 16 Filipinos, nine Greeks, two Ukrainians and one Romanian.
It is carrying about two million barrels of oil, the equivalent of the daily output of some of the world's top oil producers.It is carrying about two million barrels of oil, the equivalent of the daily output of some of the world's top oil producers.
War-torn Somalia has had no functioning government since 1991, allowing pirates to operate along the lawless coast, almost with impunity.War-torn Somalia has had no functioning government since 1991, allowing pirates to operate along the lawless coast, almost with impunity.
In recent months, the pirates have started operating further from the Somali coast as international navies try to protect shipping against attacks.In recent months, the pirates have started operating further from the Somali coast as international navies try to protect shipping against attacks.
In November 2008, another oil tanker, the Sirius Star, which was also carrying some two million barrels of oil, became the largest ship ever seized by pirates.In November 2008, another oil tanker, the Sirius Star, which was also carrying some two million barrels of oil, became the largest ship ever seized by pirates.
The vessel was released in January after a ransom of $3m (then £1.95m) was paid.The vessel was released in January after a ransom of $3m (then £1.95m) was paid.