Somali pirates lower ransom

(GETTY)

mogadishu Somali pirates holding a Saudi supertanker have reduced their ransom demand to $15m (£10m), a local leader said yesterday. The gang had been quoted as wanting $25m to release the Sirius Star, captured on15 November in waters southeast of Kenya.

Abdirahim Isse Adow, representing a Somali militia, the Islamic Courts Union, said his men are seeking to confront the pirates and free the ship and middlemen had now given a $15m ransom figure.

Meanwhile, a pirate calling himself Daybed told the BBC they had no plans to harm the 25 crew members taken hostage, which include Britons, Peter French and James Grady.