19 Feb 2011

Pirates take American sailors hostage

10:56 pm on 19 February 2011

Four Americans sailing on a yacht off the coast of Oman have been taken hostage by Somali pirates.

The international maritime watchdog Ecoterra says the yacht, owned by a retired couple, was hijacked 240 nautical miles off Oman on Friday afternoon.

Pirates usually attack cargo ships, but they have hijacked a number of yachts in recent years.