French army frees hostages off Somalia

[Jacaylbaro]

PARIS, Sept 16 (Reuters) - French forces have freed two French tourists taken hostage by pirates off the Somali coast, the French president's office said on Tuesday.

 

One pirate was killed and six others taken prisoner, the president's office said in a statement.

 

The French couple were seized at the start of September by gunmen who had demanded a ransom of more than $1.4 million. The couple had been taking a sailing boat from Australia to France, where they planned to sell it.

 

"The two French nationals are safe and sound," the statement said. It said President Nicolas Sarkozy had ordered the French army to rescue the hostages late on Monday.

 

Somali pirates have hijacked more than 30 ships so far this year, making the shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden the most dangerous in the world.

 

Most of the gunmen are based in the lawless, semi-autonomous northern region of Puntland.

 

Abdulqadir Muse Yusuf, Puntland's assistant fisheries minister, told Reuters the French raid took place on the coast about 700 km (435 miles) southwest of Bosasso.

 

"They captured the boat and saved their two tourists," Yusuf said.

 

"This morning planes were seen flying over the area, but they have now gone back. We are investigating whether the French marines caused other deaths and damage, since many civilians live around that area."

 

An east African maritime organisation had named the couple as Jean-Yves and Bernadette Delanne.

 

Earlier this year, French commandos captured six Somali pirates shortly after a ransom had been paid for the release of a French yacht and its 30-strong crew.

 

The pirates had been demanding a ransom of more than $1.4 million for the Delannes' freedom, as well as the release of the six pirates held in a French prison.

 

On Sunday, pirates fired rockets at a French tuna fishing boat in international waters in the Indian Ocean, 400 nautical miles off the Somali coast.

 

France has demanded European Union moves to protect boats sailing in the Indian Ocean.