India welcomes release of sailors by Somali pirates

New Delhi, June 14: India today (June 14) welcomed the release of six of its sailors held captive by Somali pirates on board a hijacked merchant vessel.

"We are happy they have been released and the ship is now moving out," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters here.

He, however, parried a question about the role of Pakistani rights activist Ansar Burney in securing the release of the 22 crew members, saying, "Let us not get into a speculative analysis on who is behind it and who is provoking it".

Somali pirates had released the crew members after ransom was paid to them, Burney had said yesterday.

The pirates had taken the crew members, including Pakistanis, Egyptians and a Sri Lankan, hostage after capturing the vessel MV Suez last year.

Burney, who negotiated with the pirates and raised money through donations, said in Karachi that all hostages had been freed.

He said they would reach their homes in a few days as arrangements are being made for their repatriation.

PTI