Somali pirates free Danish hostages held since Feb.24

The somali pirates on Wednesday freed seven Danish nationals held since February, the Danish Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued here today. The seven, a family of five and two other adults, were on a two-year world tour in August 2009 when the somali pirates seized their yacht in the Indian Ocean on February 24, said the statement stating that three of the hostages were teenagers. After the yacht was seized, Denmark urged recreational sailors to avoid the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea and the north-western section of the Indian Ocean due to the risk of pirates. The Foreign Ministry statement further said the Danish nationals were well considering the circumstances and were reported to be heading back to Denmark.