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Turkish ship's owner says seized crew unharmed

Sat Nov 1, 2008 6:55 AM EDT
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Associated Press

In this Oct. 19, 2008 file photo released by the United States Navy, Somali pirates holding the merchant vessel MV Faina stand on the deck of the ship after a U.S. Navy request to check on the health and welfare of the ship's crew in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia. Blackwater Worldwide and other private security firms are joining the battle against pirates plaguing one of the world's most important shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia. NATO, with a flotilla of warships due to arrive in Somali waters this weekend, is trying to work out legal and regulatory issues surrounding the use of armed contractors before adopting a position on private security companies. (AP Photo/U.S. Navy, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky)

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ANKARA — The owner of a Turkish ship hijacked off the coast of Somalia says pirates have not harmed the 20-strong crew.

Pirates hijacked the Yasa Neslihan freighter in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday. It was carrying iron ore from Canada to China.

Yasa Holding spokesman Fehmi Ulgener says the captain contacted the company by telephone from the ship on Saturday. The captain said the ship was anchored in the region but gave no details.

NATO one week ago sent three ships to the Gulf of Aden to escort cargo vessels and to patrol for pirates in one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. But attacks have continued.

Somalia is caught up in an Islamic insurgency and has no functioning government, no navy and no coast guard to police its coast.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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