Somali pirates release Taiwanese fishing boat and crew held since April, Taiwan govt says

Somali pirates free Taiwan boat and crew

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan says Somali pirates have freed a Taiwanese fishing boat and all of its crew held since April after the boat owner paid a ransom.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Henry Chen says the Win Far 161 was released Thursday and the boat and its crew are on their way home. He did not say how many crew were on board and how much ransom was paid.

Win Far 161 was seized last April near an island in the Seychelles, more than 700 miles (1,100 kilometers) off the coast of Somalia.

Somali pirates now hold at least seven ships and more than 160 crew members. Somalia has not had a functioning government since 1991.