Around the World: Somalia

Pirates free 1 boat, grab 1

Somali pirates are leaving a Spanish tuna fishing boat hijacked six weeks ago after agreeing to a ransom of $3.5 million, one of the pirates said yesterday.

The Alakrana was seized by pirates in the Indian Ocean on Oct 2 with 36 crew aboard, one of at least 13 ships being held off the Somali coast along with more than 230 crew as hostages. The was a pause in hijackings during monsoon rains, but the Somali sea gangs have stepped up attacks in the past two months.