http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_457302.html
LONDON - A BRITISH couple held hostage by Somali pirates said in a video telecast on Friday that their captors are 'losing patience' and could kill them 'within a week' if no ransom is paid.
The video of Paul and Rachel Chandler - held since their yacht, the Lynn Rival, was boarded in the Indian Ocean on October 23 - was made on Wednesday and broadcast on Britain's Channel Four News programme.
Paul Chandler, 59, said he and his wife Rachel, 55, were unharmed, but added that no-one had responded to the pirates' demand for a ransom of US$7 million (S$9.8 million).
'Our kidnappers are losing patience. they are concerned that there has been no response at all to their demands for money,' he said, seen surrounded by armed men pointing their weapons at him and his wife.
'We have been threatened that there is a terrorist gang at large in the country looking for us,' Mr Chandler said. 'We are also concerned that these people will lose patience and will not feed us - and I have no doubt that they will not hesitate to kill us, perhaps within a week or so of now if there is no response.'
Mr Chandler urged the British government and his family to open talks with the pirates 'so that perhaps our lives can be brought back'. His voice broke slightly as he finished his statement, saying: 'So please, somebody get in touch; otherwise we just sleepwalk to a tragic ending.' -- AFP
Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:15 am