Procedures completed for release of sailors from Somalia: officials

Negotiations for the release of eight South Korean sailors held hostage in Somalia for nearly four months have been successfully concluded and the procedures for their release were completed, government officials in Seoul said Sunday.

The sailors on the tuna ship belonging to South Korea's Dongwon Fisheries Co. were abducted along with 17 fellow crew members from other Asian nations in the sea off the East African country on April 4. The 17 non-Korean sailors are nine Indonesians, five Vietnamese and three Chinese.

"The 25 sailors aboard the Dongwon vessel are still in the process of being released. The most important thing is their safety, so we have to wait more carefully until their actual release," said a government official.

"Negotiators (representing Dongwon) have already reached both verbal and written agreements with the Somali captors on their release. There has been no new development that could negatively affect the prior agreements," the official said.

Asked if the sailors were allowed to depart for international waters, the official said they are still at the port of Obbia.

"We put top priority on the safety of the sailors. As the procedures for their release have been completed, the sailors will soon depart for international waters in the Indian Ocean. Then Dongwon Fisheries will officially announce their release."

South Korea's Foreign Ministry has engaged in earnest diplomatic efforts to gain their release. The Somali abductors, known to be pirates, reportedly sought a huge ransom.

The Associated Press, AFP and other news agencies, confirming the imminent release of the sailors, reported that a ransom of about US$800,000 was paid for the freeing of all 25 crew members.

"The illegal fishermen who entered into the territorial waters of Somalia were released after they paid a fine of $800,000," Somali elder Abdi Ilmi told AFP from Haradere port.

"They could have been released early, but there was some dispute on the amount of ransom that was to be paid. The militiamen demanded a million dollars, but finally they agreed to $800,000," Ilmi added.

Seoul, July 30 (Yonhap News)