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KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Pirates freed a Ukrainian cargo ship seized nearly 40 days ago off the coast of Somalia, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said Sunday.
The Panahia's 22 crew members were safe after being freed late Saturday, and by noon Sunday the ship was 90 miles (144 kilometers) away from Somalia's east coast, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
It was not immediately clear if the US$700,000 (euro585,000) ransom demanded by the pirates had been paid, although earlier officials in Kiev had said the Ukrainian company was ready to pay. No one at the Foreign Ministry could be reached to comment Sunday afternoon.
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