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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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Pirates Hijack Yacht, Kidnap UK Couple

Brits reportedly safe after yacht seized off Somalia

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(Newser) – A British couple whose yacht went missing in the Indian Ocean four days ago is being held by Somali pirates. The couple was captured during a round-the-world trip while sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania; five international warships were searching hundreds of miles off the African coast for the pair. A pirate told the Times of London that they had "hijacked" the boat and that the couple was "healthy and in our hands."

The pirate did not say where the couple was taken, but a ransom demand is expected soon. Somalia has not had a functioning government for nearly 20 years, and the coast of the African nation has become the world's most dangerous area for piracy. This year alone 163 pirate attacks have been reported, many supported by assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

Sailors and Royal Marines from the Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland battle pirates off the Somalian coast earlier this year. A British couple was kidnapped by pirates hundreds of miles from the coast.
Sailors and Royal Marines from the Royal Navy frigate HMS Portland battle pirates off the Somalian coast earlier this year. A British couple was kidnapped by pirates hundreds of miles from the coast.   (AP Photo,Alex Cave, Royal Navy, ho)
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11 comments
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chicken
Oct 27, 09 9:00 AM CDT
Have any of these pirates fired upon a ship, or do they rely on fear tactics? I haven't heard of them harming a hostage either. Sounds like there might be some sort of unspoken law there. Reply
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pwnage
Oct 27, 09 10:26 AM CDT
I haven't heard about them harming hostages. It's their livelihood and they just want the dough I'd guess.
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divetrader
Oct 27, 09 10:31 AM CDT
If the right wing conservatives want to see what life is like without a government, this is the place to look. This is a non-country without respect from other countries. They have been dumped on by all superpowers. There water is polluted with uranium. They don't have protection for their citizens. They have no assistance for people that need help. So they hijack people for money to help themselves. This is what the neo-cons want for us. Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
onebadc20
Oct 27, 09 11:32 AM CDT
You are retarted to think that a concervative America would be anything like somalia. Majority of conservatives are highly educated christians who treat people better than athiest liberals. The pirates are just like the "brothers" that live in the HUD of all big US cities. They are obnoxious and have little to no respect for anyone except themselves.
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IN RESPONSE:
Spudsy
Oct 27, 09 6:11 PM CDT
Oh. So there are no christian liberals? Good. We don't need the idiot superstitious types over here. Take them all. Go and actually read your bible. With your "brothers" comment, I am sure you will like the pro-slavery parts.
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