UN envoy hails release of hostages held by Somali pirates

The special representative of the UN secretary-general for Somalia, Nicholas Kay, on Friday welcomed the recent release of four remaining crewmen from a Thai fishing vessel, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters here.

"The crew, all Thai nationals, were taken hostage at sea by Somali pirates in April of 2010," Dujarric said at a daily news briefing here.

"The mission to recover the hostages was conducted by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and funded by the Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia's Trust Fund," he said.

"This is the longest period of captivity by any hostages of Somali pirates," Kay said. "I am grateful to see the longest held hostages released from Somalia, and thank all those involved who made it happen, especially the regional authorities in Galmudug."

The four were from FV Prantalay 12, a fishing vessel. After being seized by the pirates in 2010, it was used by the pirates as a mother ship, before it eventually capsized in July 2011. The remaining crew was then taken ashore.

Of the original 24 crew members, six succumbed to illness at various stages of captivity, and 14 Myanmar crew members were released to the Puntland Maritime Police authorities. They were repatriated by the UNODC's Hostage Support Program in May 2011.

Meanwhile, Kay also called for the immediate release of 26 crew members abducted from another vessel, FV Naham 3, the spokesman added. Endite