British hostage couple 'to be released soon'
A retired British couple snatched from their yacht by pirates more than four months ago will be released soon, a senior Somali official said today.
Deputy parliamentary speaker Mohamed Omar Dalha said Somali communities inside and outside the chaos-wracked country have been working to negotiate the “unconditional release” of Paul and Rachel Chandler.
Mr Dalha said today he was hopeful they would be released within two weeks.
The pair were kidnapped in October by pirates who seized their 38-foot yacht as they sailed towards Tanzania.
The pirates have demanded US$7m to release the Chandlers. Britain’s government refuses to pay ransoms to kidnappers.
The Chandlers are among about 130 sailors held hostage in Somalia.
