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| Pirate couple speak of 'torment' | Pirate couple speak of 'torment' |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A UK couple kidnapped by Somali pirates have spoken of their loneliness and torment at being separated as their wedding anniversary approaches. | A UK couple kidnapped by Somali pirates have spoken of their loneliness and torment at being separated as their wedding anniversary approaches. |
| Paul and Rachel Chandler, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were captured while sailing towards Tanzania on 23 October. | Paul and Rachel Chandler, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were captured while sailing towards Tanzania on 23 October. |
| In a telephone interview with a Somali television station, Mrs Chandler, 56, said: "I'm obviously very tormented and very, very lonely and worried." | In a telephone interview with a Somali television station, Mrs Chandler, 56, said: "I'm obviously very tormented and very, very lonely and worried." |
| Mr Chandler, 60, described their enforced separation as "torture". | Mr Chandler, 60, described their enforced separation as "torture". |
| The couple were interviewed approximately two or three weeks ago. | The couple were interviewed approximately two or three weeks ago. |
| This is torture and we have never in our married life been apart this long Paul Chandler | This is torture and we have never in our married life been apart this long Paul Chandler |
| Mrs Chandler added: "I spoke to him six, seven or eight days ago but they don't let us. | Mrs Chandler added: "I spoke to him six, seven or eight days ago but they don't let us. |
| "We're not together, we've not seen one another for five weeks now but I was allowed to speak to him." | "We're not together, we've not seen one another for five weeks now but I was allowed to speak to him." |
| During the interview which was also shown on Monday's ITV News At Ten, Mr Chandler said: "This is torture and we have never in our married life been apart this long and we have our anniversary next Sunday. | During the interview which was also shown on Monday's ITV News At Ten, Mr Chandler said: "This is torture and we have never in our married life been apart this long and we have our anniversary next Sunday. |
| "We will have been married 29 years." | "We will have been married 29 years." |
| Mr Chandler thanked the UK's Somali community after he was told they were doing what they could to aid their release, saying: "It's very nice to know that the Somali community and the UK are concerned about me, I am very grateful." | Mr Chandler thanked the UK's Somali community after he was told they were doing what they could to aid their release, saying: "It's very nice to know that the Somali community and the UK are concerned about me, I am very grateful." |
| TV and radio stations serving the community have broadcast regular appeals for the Chandlers' release and held public meetings and demonstrations demanding their freedom. | TV and radio stations serving the community have broadcast regular appeals for the Chandlers' release and held public meetings and demonstrations demanding their freedom. |
| The pirates have threatened to kill the couple if their demands for $7m (£4.4m) are not met, but the Foreign Office has said it does not pay ransoms or give substantial concessions to pirates. | The pirates have threatened to kill the couple if their demands for $7m (£4.4m) are not met, but the Foreign Office has said it does not pay ransoms or give substantial concessions to pirates. |
| In February the government defended its policy and said political and diplomatic efforts were ongoing. |