WORLD> Africa
5 Somali pirates drown with ransom share
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-01-10 21:38

A parachute dropped by a small aircraft is observed by the US Navy as it drops over the MV Sirius Star during an apparent payment via a parachuted container to pirates holding the Sirius Star off the coast of Somalia, January 9, 2009. Somali pirates freed the Saudi supertanker seized in the world's biggest ship hijacking for a $3 million ransom Friday -- but five drowned when their boat capsized as they were making off with their share. [Agencies]

MOGADISHU, Somalia -- Five of the Somali pirates who released a hijacked oil-laden Saudi supertanker drowned with their share of a reported $3 million ransom after their small boat capsized, a pirate and port town resident said Saturday.

Pirate Daud Nure says the boat with eight people on board overturned in a storm after dozens of pirates left the Sirius Star following a two-month standoff in the Gulf of Aden that ended Friday.

He said five people died and three people reached shore after swimming for several hours. Daud Nure was not part of the pirate operation but knew those involved.

   Previous page 1 2 3 Next Page