MANILA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A senior Somali government official assured Wednesday that they will do their best to facilitate the immediate release of the remaining 56 Filipino hostages being held by ransom-seeking pirates off Somalia.

"We're working hard to ensure the release of the seafarers. We'll do the best we can do," visiting Somalia Deputy Prime Minister Abdurahman Aden Ibrahim Ibbi said in a press briefing here.

Since late 2008, more than 200 Filipino seamen have been abducted by ransom-seeking pirates off Somali waters.

As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate nor pay ransom to kidnappers. But it gives ship owners the free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors.

The Philippines is the world's biggest source of ship crew. Over 350,000 Filipino sailors, or about a fifth of the world's seafarers, are working in oil tankers, luxury liners and passenger vessels worldwide.