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The U.S. Navy negotiated on Thursday with Somali pirates who held an American ship captain hostage in a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean, their first such seizure of a U.S. citizen. The gunmen briefly hijacked the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama freighter Wednesday, but the 20 American crew retook control after a confrontation far out at sea where pirates have captured five other vessels in a week. Four gang members were holding the captain, Richard Phillips, on the ship's lifeboat after he apparently volunteered to be a hostage for the sake of his crew. The Bainbridge, a U.S. warship, arrived on the...

FBI in hostage talks with Somalis Capt Phillips apparently offered himself as a hostage to save his crew The US Navy has called in FBI hostage negotiators to help secure the release of a US captain held by Somali pirates in a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean. Capt Richard Phillips was taken from the Maersk Alabama cargo ship after it was briefly seized by pirates. Officials said a US warship had arrived in the area and was remaining in sight of the lifeboat during the tense talks. Relatives of the Maersk Alabama crew told US media the ship was now...

Here is an updated video report this morning on the hostage situation that has resulted from the hijacking of an American-flagged Cargo Ship yesterday by Somali Pirates. The ship is back under the control of the American crew who fought back and retook the ship. But some of the pirates escaped into a life-boat and took the captain of the ship, Richard Phillips with them as a hostage, demanding ransom for his release. The U.S. Navy is now in the vicinity of the life-boat, but say there is little they can do without putting the life of the hostage at...

The U.S. is closing in on pirates that hijacked a U.S.-flagged ship off the coast of Somalia. According to a spokesman for the owner of the Maersk Alabama, which had been hijacked by pirates before American crew members were able to regain control of the vessel Wednesday, a U.S. Navy warship arrived at the scene Wednesday night. The ship's captain still is being held hostage on a smaller boat. Family members said Capt. Richard Phillips surrendered himself to the pirates to secure the safety of the crew. "What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," said Gina...