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Pirates Release Russian Sailors

MOSCOW, KOMPAS.com - Two Russians and a Lithuanian seaman who was abducted from their ships in Cameroon released last May, said Seaman's Union of Russia (SUR), Sunday (07/04/2010).

Russian captain the ship engine room and head North and the Spirit's Greek captain of the ship Argo from Lithuania was on his way to Nigeria.

They were abducted last May 16, by an unknown armed group. They stormed the vessel and held them for ransom.

"The process of negotiations which lasted one month of meeting finally received some good news," Sur said in a statement, adding that the three men will undergo a medical examination at the U.S. embassy in Nigeria.

Itar-Tass news agency, quoting a spokesman SUR, said that Greek shipowners Banthellas Chartering paid a ransom for their release.

Liberation of three sailors took place when armed men attacked two cargo ships off the coast of oil-producing Niger Delta, killing a crew and kidnap 12 foreign workers.

On Sunday, SUR says seven of the abductees is a Russian citizen.