20091211

Somali pirates have released a Greek-owned ship with Ukrainian crews after a ransom was paid, sources said on Thursday.
Somalian pirates in Eyl. Photo by Sheekh Aduun
Somali pirates who held the Ariana cargo ship and 24 Ukrainian crews on broad for more than six months hijacked the ship 250 miles southwest of the Seychelles on May 2.

The owners of the ship confirmed on Thursday that their company had paid a ransom to bandits. But they did not mention the amount.

Spiros Minas, the Greek owner told the media: "We have paid a ransom and are waiting for the pirates to leave the vessel at any hour."

Somali pirates have made tens of millions of dollars in ransom for hijacking ships on the Indian Ocean and strategic Gulf of Aden that links Europe to Asia.

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