Somali Pirates Set $25 Million Ransom For Saudi Super Tanker, Crew

November 20, 2008 11:20 p.m. EST

Mogadishu, Somalia (AHN) - Somali pirates on Thursday demanded $25 million in ransom to be paid within 10 days in exchange for the release of a Saudi oil super tanker and its 25 crew members.

The pirates threatened disastrous consequences for the Sirius Star and its crew if the demands are not met.

Mihir Sapur, the spokesman of Saudi Aramco subsidiary Vela International, which operates the tanker, said they "cannot confirm, nor deny" reports of negotiations with the hijackers, according to Agence France-Presse.

The ship, currently anchored at the Somali pirate lair of Harardhere, was hijacked 500 miles off the coast of Kenya over the weekend. The tanker is fully loaded with two million barrels of crude oil worth $100 million.