Incident: Ariana released

The Greek-owned cargo ship Ariana is released after ransom payment. The Ukrainian crew of 24 was pronounced in good health by a spokesman for Alloceans Shipping, the ship's owners. Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko clled negotiations "very difficult." Unidentified pirate sources disclosed nearly $3 million was paid for the release. (BBC, 12/10/09)

The horrors of Ariana's crew in captivity were widely reported in the Spanish press and unremarked by the BBC in its new reporting. See entries under 11/22/09.