Hostages held by pirates on yacht released: Sarkozy
Six suspects detained by Frency navy
Last Updated: Friday, April 11, 2008 | 6:19 PM ET
CBC News
Thirty hostages have been released from a tourist yacht seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia earlier this month, according to the French president.
Six alleged pirates have been captured following the hostages' release and are being held on a French navy vessel, President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said Friday.
In a statement, Sarkozy thanked the French army and other agencies for the work "that allowed a quick end" to the situation.
The statement did not elaborate on the conditions under which the hostages were released, or the French army's role, saying only that it occurred "without incident."
About 10 gunmen seized the 88-metre French luxury yacht off the Gulf of Aden on April 4 as it was returning without passengers from the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean, capturing its 30 crew members along with the vessel.
Twenty-two of the crew were French citizens. Other nationalities of hostages include Ukrainians and Filipinos.
The French statement was unclear about exactly when the hostages were released and where.
A Sea King helicopter from Canadian frigate HMCS Charlottetown briefly provided surveillance after the vessel was captured before returning to its regular duties in the Gulf of Aden, the defence department said Friday.
French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said France would organize the hostages' return "as soon as possible."
Philippines foreign undersecretary Esteban Conejos said France's Foreign Ministry told Filipino officials in Paris that the hostages — six Filipino crew members among them — were taken to a French military base in the east African country of Djibouti.
Conejos said they are expected to fly to the French capital in the next few days.
"They are in good physical condition," Conejos told the Associated Press in Manila. "All of them are safe and sound."
He said the yacht, Le Ponant, was also turned over safely. The boat was scheduled to carry passengers beginning April 19 as part of a trip from Alexandria, Egypt, to Valletta, Malta.
More than two dozen ships were invaded by pirates off the coast of Somalia last year.
With files from the Associated Press
