US captain held by pirates freed

The captain of a US cargo ship taken hostage by Somali pirates has been released and is in safe, the US Navy says. Three pirates are reported to have been killed in the operation to free Captain Richard Phillips, who had been held in a lifeboat for several days. He was seized when pirates attacked his ship, the Maersk Alabama, on Wednesday. On Friday he failed in an attempt to swim free. An unnamed US official told that Capt Phillips was freed in what appeared to be a swift firefight. Reports say he jumped overboard for a second time, and the pirates were shot and killed before they could take action to get him back. Capt Phillips was initially taken on board the USS Bainbridge. US President Barack Obama said he was very pleased that Capt Phillips had been rescued and that his courage was a "model for all Americans".

JOY