Hostages held by Somali pirates arrive in Kenya

Seventeen hostages who had been held hostage by Somali pirates for more than 100 days have finally arrived home safely, officials confirmed here Sunday.

The freed hostages aboard MV. Semlow and MV. Milzov both hijacked on Somali waters, docked at the port of Mombasa on Saturday where family members, Kenya's Ambassador to Somalia Mohamed Affey, UN officials, owners of the two vessels and fellow seamen received them.

The hostages said the pirates were friendly to them. They said the pirates had informed them they were after the ship and WFP, which chartered the ship, as they have suspected the vessels were being used to ship in "weapons" to a rival clan.

Speaking by telephone on Sunday, Affey said Kenya was monitoring the security situation in Somalia and would issue a statement in regard to future visits to Somali waters.

WFP Deputy Country Representative Leo Van Der Velden said the agency would stop sending food aid to Somalia if they are not provided with security.

MV Semlow was hijacked on June 28 with eight Kenyans, a Tanzanian and a Sri Lankan while MV Milzov was hijacked for two days with nine Kenyans early this month.

The whereabouts of nine other Kenyans hijacked by the same Somali pirates aboard MV Togelov remains unknown.

"It is great joy, especially for the eight Kenyans who have been missing their families for almost four months now," Velden said.

He said it was crucial for the coalition forces to resume patrols on Somalia's territorial waters to eliminate increasing incidences of piracy.

Velden said this had affected the agency's plans of ferrying relief supplies to Somalia where millions of famine stricken people is suffering.

Source: Xinhua