French commandos capture Somali pirates

MOGADISHU, Somalia, April 12 (UPI) -- French commandos have apprehended a gang of Somali pirates who commandeered a yacht and held 30 hostages for a week, authorities said.

French troops went to a village in northeast Somalia, where they attacked and arrested six pirates, the Daily Mail reported Saturday. They also recovered money paid by the owners of the 288-foot yacht, the British newspaper said.

The sea-going bandits seized the yacht last Friday in the Gulf of Aden as it sailed toward the Suez Canal, bound for the Mediterranean, from the Seychelles. The 30 kidnapped crew members were later released unharmed.

French Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin said the soldiers tracked the pirates, believed to be Somali fishermen, and observed them getting into a car once they reached land.

He said a sniper in one helicopter disabled the car engine, while another helicopter dropped off three soldiers who captured the six suspects.

The sea bandits were transferred to a French navy vessel off the coast. The pirates will be tried in France.