NATO warship rescues Indian sailors freed by pirates

By Alison Bevege

ON BOARD NRP CORTE-REAL (Reuters) - A NATO warship picked up fourteen Indian sailors off Somalia on Saturday, a day after they were freed by pirates who had beaten them during 10 days of captivity.

The pirates released the weakened crew of the dhow Vishvakalyan on Friday after stealing provisions and kit.

"They hit the crew all over, on the head, everywhere," the Vishvakalyan's captain, Ismail Abdurehman said.

The pirates took most of the seamen's belongings including radios, phones, television sets and presents bought for their families. The pirates left only three chickens and the dhow's cat.

International navies are patrolling the busy shipping lanes off Somalia to try and prevent hijacks that have worried shipping firms, driven up insurance costs and prompted some vessels to avoid the Gulf of Aden.

On Friday night, the pirates shot wildly into the air, shouting "Go, go, go," at the sailors, said Abdureham.

Dario Precioso, a lieutenant on the Portuguese warship NRP Corte-Real said the dhow crew set off for the Yemeni island of Socotra to get help.

"But they probably would have died if we hadn't found them -- as they had no supplies," he said.