Somali pirates claim to have kidnapped a British couple aged 58 and 55 who were sailing on a yacht to the Seychelles via Tanzania. Nothing has been heard from the couple since a distress signal was sent last Friday.

Most pirates operating off the coast of Somalia hijack vessels for ransom, but no demand has been received as yet. A search organised by the authorities in the Seychelles has yielded no results.

photo: Somali pirates on a hijacked ship (EPA)