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MOGADISHU—Pirates have seized a French yacht and its crew off the dangerous northern Somali coast, a minister from the country's semi-autonomous Putland region told Agence France-Presse Wednesday.
The French foreign ministry confirmed the incident, saying that two French people were aboard the sailing vessel.
"We are getting information that the French ship was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden area and it is coming towards Eyl coastal village," said Hassan Alore, Puntland's natural resources minister.
Eyl, some 400 kilometers (250 miles) south of Puntland's capital Bossaso, is a favourite hideout for the pirates who infest the area.
Alore said the vessel was a "small yacht" carrying "some individuals" but did not specify their nationalities.
"The pirates already got seven other ships hijacked off the Somalia coast in Eyl village," Alore added, saying the vessel was currently at Calula village east of Bossaso.
In Kenya, the head of Seafarers Assistance Programme Andrew Mwangura said the ship was carrying tourists, but had no information about their nationalities.
"We are still seeking details of the vessel," he told AFP.
Since the end of July, eight ships have been hijacked in the same waters, including two Malaysian vessels as well as others from Germany, Iran and Japan.
The waters off Somalia are the most dangerous in the world for pirate activity, with the International Maritime Bureau reporting 24 attacks in the area between April and June this year.
Of the 24 attacks, 19 occurred in the Gulf of Aden off the country's north coast.
Malaysia sent crack troops and navy ships to the Gulf of Aden following the seizure of its two vessels while the country's shipping giant MISC Berhad has barred its vessels from entering the region.
Malaysia's foreign ministry said the pirates had reportedly demanded a ransom of three million dollars for the return of the two ships and crew.
The French foreign ministry said a crisis meeting had been held Wednesday to begin moves to secure the release of the yacht as quickly as possible.
In April Somali pirates seized a French luxury sailing ship, Le Ponant, with its 30 crew, including 22 French nationals, and held them for a week. They were freed by French naval forces who arrested six alleged pirates.
