April 10
THE US ship captain being held hostage in a lifeboat by pirates off Somalia managed to jump off the boat but failed to escape his captors, US networks have reported.
Captain Richard Phillips jumped into the water during the night and tried to swim towards the nearby US destroyer, the USS Bainbridge, but pirates jumped into the water and recaptured him, three television networks reported.US military officials said Captain Phillips was fine, and that the pirates did not hurt him.
The pirate commander said that he was demanding a ransom to free Captain Phillips.
"We are demanding to get ransom and to return home safely before releasing the captain," Abdi Garad said.
Mr Garad also said their men were negotiating with the US navy "not to be arrested if they release the captain and the American officials will hopefully fulfil that condition otherwise the captain will not be released."
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