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MANAMA, Bahrain (CNN) --
Hero Richard Phillips, the captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, tried to escape from
Pirates Thursday night by jumping out of the lifeboat where he's being held, a U.S. official said Friday.Phillips was believed to be trying to swim to the USS Bainbridge, a naval warship that is in communication with the gunmen holding Phillips off Somalia's coast, the official said.The pirates jumped into the water, recaptured him, and returned him to the lifeboat, according to the official.The U.S. military has every reason to believe that he was unharmed in the incident, the official said. Phillips has been held since Wednesday, when the hijackers briefly seized control of his ship, the Maersk Alabama.He is being held by four gunmen in the lifeboat about 300 miles off the Horn of Africa.Meanwhile, two U.S. warships were on their way Friday to help the crew of the Bainbridge secure Phillips' release.For the U.S. Navy, the show of strength is more than just a means to resolve a hostage situation, said Chris Lawrence, CNN's Pentagon correspondent.
Watch security expert explain the negotiation process »Attacks in the area have picked up so drastically in recent months that the Navy has to reposition some of its fleet to deal with the threats, he said...more.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/10/somalia.u.s.ship/index.htmlSomali pirate stand-off continueshttp://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0410/breaking1.htmsome historical backgroundPirate Ransom Helped Somalia Islamist Militants Seize Port
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