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Pirates Free Saudi Tanker, Get $3M Ransom

Ship headed to safety after November capture

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 9, 2009 10:09 AM CST

(Newser) – A Saudi tanker taken by Somali pirates in November has been freed after a $3 million ransom was paid, a pirate negotiator said. Pirates have left the ship, which is now headed to safety. The Sirius Star, which carried 2 million oil barrels and 25 crew members, was the largest tanker ever abducted, the BBC reports.

“All our people have now left the Sirius Star. The ship is free, the crew is free,” a pirate told AFP. The pirates agreed to the $3 million yesterday, though they’d wanted more, said the negotiator.

The MV Sirius Star.
The MV Sirius Star.   (AP Photo/Christian Duys)
In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star is at anchor, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, in the Indian Ocean.
In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star is at anchor, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, in the Indian Ocean.   (AP Photo/William S. Stevens)
In this Nov. 19 file photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star is at anchor in the Indian Ocean.
In this Nov. 19 file photo provided by the U.S. Navy, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star is at anchor in the Indian Ocean.   (AP Photo/William S. Stevens)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Michael_CT
Jan 10, 2009 1:19 AM CST
Here's one way to encourage Pirates: Give into their demands. Here we go. . .

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