French army frees hostages off Somalia

French commandos stormed a sailboat to free two French tourists who were being held for ransom by heavily-armed Somali pirates, President Nicolas Sarkozy said yesterday.

One pirate was killed and six others taken prisoner in the pre-dawn assault by some 30 troops. The freed hostages and the captured pirates were put on a French navy vessel sailing towards Djibouti, where France has an army base.

"This operation ... is a warning to all those engaged in this criminal activity. France will not accept that crime pays," Sarkozy said after the operation.