MV Albedo: Only partial ransom amount arranged

Somali pirates demanded money for the release of the men by April 20.

KARACHI: Only a million out of the Rs160 million required for the release of a 22-member crew, including seven Pakistanis, of the captured MV Albedo has been collected, officials told The Express Tribune.

Somali pirates, who held hostages and the vessel in their captivity since November 2010, demanded money for the release of the men by April 20. But when the families were unable to meet the deadline, it was extended to April 26.

However, so far only one million has been collected, said CPLC Chief Ahmed Chinoy. According to him, the pirates have threatened to kill all the men onboard.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2012.