Hostage talks stall

Mogadishu - The imminent release of 24 hostages on board a German ship hijacked off Somalia in April has been delayed after pirates demanded a higher ransom, a gang member said on Tuesday.The German-flagged container vessel Hansa Stavanger with five Germans, three Russians, two Ukrainians and 14 Filipinos had been expected to be released on Monday.
The pirates had agreed to a $3m ransom, but some members of the gang said that was too little, a pirate named Hassan told Reuters."Some of our friends say we are many and so the Germans must add $1m or $500,000 to make the ransom about $4m," he told Reuters by phone from Haradheere, about 17 km (10 miles) west of Gan, where the ship is being held.
"The Germans seemed to be angry after we broke the promise. They rarely answer our calls. Now they insist on the agreed $3m, but we are divided on this issue. We do not know how long it will take to release the ship," he said.The 20 000 tonne ship, owned by Hamburg shipping company Leonhardt & Blumberg, was captured about 400 miles off the southern Somali port of Kismayu on April 4.
Concern over the crew's welfare
The vessel's owners refused to comment.
"We don't give any statements on the Hansa Stavanger," said a company spokesperson who did not give her name...more...http://www.news24.com/Content/Africa/News/965/98795f2426d74bdebc475ba36b3df440/28-07-2009%2002-07/Hostage_talks_stall_