Somali pirates release 11 Indians

Eleven months after being seized, a ship with 11 Indians and 12 others has been freed by Somali pirates, government sources said on Tuesday.

MV Rak Africana, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadine, is still said to be in the Somalian waters but all the Indians on board are safe.

"We can confirm that the ship (MV Rak Africana) and its crew members have been freed but the ship is still in the Somalian waters," said a source in the shipping ministry which is the nodal department in such matters.

The source said the ship has developed some technical snag and will take some time to sail again, but refused to share other details.

MV Rak Africana was seized approximately 280 nautical miles west of the Seychelles on April 11, 2010 with 23 crew members on board.

Somali pirates have struck several times in the international waters over the last few years, seizing several ship, six of which had 64 Indians on board before the release of Rak Africana crew members.

India has been talking to various countries in that region seeking their cooperation in fighting the menace but has ruled out hot pursuit.