From CNN:DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) -- Pirates who seized an arms-laden Ukrainian vessel off the Somali coast lined up the 20 captive crewmen on the ship's deck to show a nearby American naval patrol that they were in good health, a U.S. Navy spokesman said Monday.
Pirates hijacked the MV Faina September 25 as it was carrying a cargo of tanks, rifles and ammunition bound for Sudan.
The hijacking, one of around two dozen reported attacks on ships off Somalia this year, raised concerns that the sensitive cargo could fall into the hands of al-Qaeda linked insurgents in Somalia.
On Sunday, U.S. sailors on nearby vessels were able to see the 20 crewmen -- 17 Ukrainians, two Russians and a Latvian -- as they stood along the rail of the deck.
"They look healthy, they look like they're OK," said Lt. Nathan Christensen, deputy spokesman at the Middle East headquarters of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
Read more ....
My Comment: This can go on for months.