[Iran Press TV Latest] The Somali pirates who hijacked the German-flagged container vessel Hansa Stavanger in April have reportedly demanded a higher ransom. The pirates said a ransom of USD 3.5 million was too little and that Germans must add another USD 1 million for the release of the vessel.
They described the low share of money as the reason behind their decision to up their demands to USD 4.5 million, Press TV's correspondent in Mogadishu reported.
The 20,000-ton German vessel Hansa Stavanger with five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos on board had been seized in April about 400 miles (646 km) off the southern Somali port city of Kismayu.
Somali pirates had earlier released another German-owned cargo ship held for nearly three months and its crew of 11 Romanians. The ship -- the MV Victoria -- was captured in May in the Gulf of Aden, south of the Yemeni port of al-Mukalla.