Pirates want $2 million

[John]

Somali pirates are holding Richard Phillips on a lifeboat, having hauled him back when he jumped overboard in an attempt escape.

The pirates have demanded a $2 million (£1.3m) ransom and have vowed to fight any attack by US naval forces who are stalking them at sea.

Other bandits holding a foreign crew on a hijacked German ship also off the Somali coast are heading towards the lifeboat and intend to help their comrades, a pirate source said.

Mr Phillips leapt into the sea during the night, but at least one pirate quickly followed and brought him back, a defence source said.

In a separate incident, French forces freed a yacht captured by pirates but one French hostage was killed, French President Nicolas Sarkozy's office said in a statement.

Four other hostages, including a child, held on the Tanit since April 4, were also freed. Two pirates were killed in the military operation and three others seized.

Mr Phillips is one of about 270 hostages being held at the moment by Somali pirates, who have been preying on the busy sea-lanes of the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean for years.

They are keeping 18 captured vessels at or near lairs on the Somali coast - five of them taken since the weekend alone.

[JohnCenaFan28]

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