Somali pirates free cargo ship

MOGADISHU, Somalia, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- Somali pirates have released a cargo ship loaded with wheat they commandeered nearly two months ago, authorities said Saturday.

The Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, said the vessel MV Delight's 25-member crew, which included seven Filipinos, also was freed Friday night, ABS-CBN News reported. The crew members were reported to be safe and in good health.

The Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship had been bound from Germany to Iran with 36,000 tons of wheat when it was taken over Nov. 18 in the Gulf of Aden.

The crew also included seven sailors from Iran, seven from India, two from Pakistan and two from Guyana, the Press Trust of India reported.

Details of the ship's release -- which came the same day pirates freed an oil super tanker after receiving a $3 million ransom payment -- were not available.