International ship crew captured by pirates

A representative of the Russian consulate in Hamburg says that one of the 4 members of the crew of the container ship Hansa Marburg, who have been taken hostages by African pirates, is a Russian citizen.

The name of this Russian is not revealed because this may hamper his liberation.

Other members of the crew are citizens of Ukraine and Kiribati, an island state in the Pacific Ocean.

The 175-meter-long container ship, which sails under Liberia’s flag, was attacked in 135 miles from the western African coast on Monday.

At present, mediators in London are holding talks with the pirates.