20110310 Xinhua NEW DELHI, March 10 (Xinhua) -- India said Thursday that 11 Indians captured along with their ship were finally released by Somali pirates Wednesday, after being held hostage for nearly a year.
"The sailors on ship RAK Africana were picked up by a Spanish naval ship in vicinity, (They are) safe," Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao wrote on Twitter, adding the negotiations for their release were "delicate" and "prolonged".
RAK Africana, registered in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, was hijacked by the Somali pirates on April 11, 2010, about 280 nautical miles west of Seychelles and 23 crew members, including 11 Indians, were taken hostage.
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