Malaysia in Talks With Pirates Over Crew-Minister

The tanker, owned by Malaysian shipping company MISC, was one of four ships taken by pirates off the coast of Somalia last week.

The Malaysian government is holding talks with pirates in the Gulf of Aden to secure the release of 39 crew on a vessel which was hijacked last week, the deputy prime minister said.

"Our hostages are safe and negotiations are going on to secure their release," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying by the Malaysian state news agency Bernama on Monday.

He declined to disclose any further details.

The tanker, owned by Malaysian shipping company MISC, was one of four ships taken by pirates off the coast of Somalia last week.

Piracy is rife off Somalia, which has been mired in anarchy since warlords overthrew a dictator in 1991. Maritime officials say at least 30 ships have been hijacked off the coast of the Horn of Africa nation so far this year.