“Pirates will release us if ransom is paid,” says Algerian sailors

Algerian sailor Ferrah Said’s family received a phone call from Somali pirates on Wednesday and they were reassured about him.

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  The sailor told his family he and his Algerian colleagues were in good shape and the pirates were dealing with them in a normal way.
  

  His wife told Echorouk the pirates may release the sailors and all the ship crew once they get the money.

  Sailor Abdelkrim Roula told his wife through the phone they may be released if a ransom is paid.

  The sailors were kidnapped on Saturday when Somali pirates seized their ship next to Omani coasts. They all called their families as pirates had given them mobile phones.

  They have sized 29 ships carrying 681 hostages and equipped with sophisticated telecommunications devices. In previous seizures, they allocated a part of the money to but weapons and rockets in order to use them in their attacks.