Italian ship freed from Somali pirates

ROME, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Somali pirates have freed an Italian ship after four months in captivity in the Gulf of Aden, Italy's foreign minister says.

Franco Frattini announced in Rome Sunday that the hijacked tugboat had been freed, CNN reported.

Frattini voiced "joy at the positive outcome … relating to the kidnapping of the merchant vessel Buccaneer and for the release" of the crew, the U.S. broadcaster said, adding that it wasn't clear if the pirates had voluntarily released the ship or whether it had been taken by force.

Cyrus Mody of the International Maritime Bureau told CNN the Buccaneer was seized in the Gulf of Aden on April 11.