MOGADISHU (AFP)
Three people were killed Friday during an operation against pirates by French helicopters in northeastern Somalia, a regional governor told AFP.
"I can confirm that three bodies were found and collected. Eight others were wounded while eight others were taken by the French," said Dahir Abdul Kadir Ahmed, the governor of Mudug region.
He said the raid occurred in Jariban village, some 25 kilometers (15 miles) from Garaad hamlet, where the French luxury yacht, Le Ponant, was held by pirates for a week.
"French helicopters attacked the area after the ship was freed," Ahmed added.
In Paris, the French military said it had detained six pirates after they freed the 30 crew members of the ship.
President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier announced that the hostages, including 22 French sailors, had been freed in an operation that took place "without incident."
Armed forces chief of staff General Jean-Louis Georgelin said that half of the hostage takers were arrested about one hour after they had released the crew, and had returned on land.
Detained pirates were taken aboard a French navy ship where they were being held on Friday, said a statement from the French presidency.
"We were able to track the pirates which enabled a helicopter-borne action to intercept half of them," Georgelin told a news conference.
Owned by French charter company CMA-CGM, Le Ponant was en route to the Mediterranean from the Seychelles when pirates boarded the vessel last Friday.
The vessel used for luxury cruises later anchored off Puntland, a breakaway northern region of Somalia, with a French navy ship in attendance, while negotiations with the pirates took place.
Asked whether France had paid a ransom to secure the release of the crew, Georgelin said no "public funds" were paid to the hostage-takers. |
