Somali pirates release Greek vessel 'Ariana'

Somali pirates said they freed a Greek ship on Thursday that they hijacked more than six months ago as it sailed to the Middle East from Brazil.

The Ariana was carrying 24 Ukrainian crew when it was seized on 2nd May north of the capital Mogadishu. The ship was flying a Maltese flag and belonged to All Oceans shipping in Greece.

Last month, the pirates said they had agreed a $3.5 million ransom and expected to release the vessel soon.

"After days of negotiations we freed the Greek ship Ariana today," an associate of the gang, Abdinor, told Reuters by telephone from the coastal town of Haradheere.

"It will be sailing away in the next few hours, I hope."

Heavily armed Somali pirates have plagued the busy shipping lanes off the Horn of Africa for several years. Foreign warships from 16 countries are in the area to try to prevent hijackings.