Somali pirates release seized ship without conditions

Pirates who seized a Comoros-flagged oil tanker in Somalia have released the ship without conditions.

Security official Ahmed Mohamed says the pirates have disembarked the ship, which is now heading to Bossaso port, the region’s commercial hub.

According to him, the release occurred after negotiations by local elders and local officials with the pirates, who seized the tanker on Monday.

Naval forces and the pirates clashed earlier on Thursday, which led to the hijacking of the Comoros-flagged tanker Aris 13, the first such seizure of a large commercial vessel off Somalia since 2012.