Pirates release second Yemeni boat

SANA'A, Jan. 02 (Saba) - Somali pirates have released second Yemeni
fishing boat, al-Qana'a, they had hijacked early in December off
Somalia's coast along with another boat, Faluja, head of the
Coastguards Ali Ahmed Rasi has said.

8 fishermen were onboard the boat when it arrived in the Aden port
on January 1.

The release of the al-Qana'a boat came almost a week after pirates
released the other boat along with 10 fishermen.

The two boats were seized by Somali pirates while fishing in the
international waters off the Somali coast.

Somali pirates attacked 25 fishermen onboard the two boats, but
seven could manage to escape.

Coastguards became aware of the incident through those who could
escape.

The boats were released without ransoms, Rasi said.

The pirates captured the two boats to use them for carrying out
pirate attacks against vessels and merchant ships which pass through
the Gulf of Aden.

Piracy has been active in recent month with more than 100 vessels
attacked in the last year so far.

Pirates usually demand ransoms and they receive.

FR