A British couple from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK have been seized by pirates while sailing from the Seychelles to Tanzania. A spokesman for the pirates confirmed to a local New York Times reporter in Somalia by telephone that the couple was being taken to Xarardheere, a pirate stronghold on the Somali coast north of Mogadishu, and that ransom demands would be made after they arrived.

A few hours later the spokesman called back to say that the pirates and their captives had been attacked by a “naval forces”, and that two of the pirates’ vessels had been sunk. Another version says that the pirates scuttled their own boats, and that they were all aboard the captured sailboat. They were expected in Xarardheere yesterday but have not arrived.

The couple was on a round-the-world trip in their 12 m sloop Lynn Rival. They are experienced sailors. New York Times, The Times

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Lausanne, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Swiss public radio, RSR, reports that Libya is asking for CHF430,000 as a downpayment for the return of each of two businessmen who have been held in the country for over a year. Bern has not confirmed the information.

Armed Somalian men released two aid workers, from Doctors without Borders, Tuesday 5 May.  The pair had been kidnapped and held for a ransom,  but according to local sources a ransom was not paid. Incidents  like this  have  hindered the ability of relief workers to respond to the long-standing Humanitarian crisis in the country, according to an Al Jazeera report.

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) released their last known foreign hostage, Erik Roland Larsson, Tuesday 17 March after nearly two years of captivity. Larsson, 69, appears to have suffered a stroke during the time he spent captive and is being evaluated by doctors in the city of Monteria. Farc sought $5 million for his release, but it is not known if the ransom was paid. Al Jazeera

Lake Geneva region, Switzerland (TSR, Fre) – TSR, Swiss public television, will run a documentary 5 February following its own investigation into charges by Colombian authorities that Jean-Pierre Gontard paid CHF500,000 in ransom money to Farc rebels in order to gain the release of Novartis employees taken hostage.

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