UK government: “we won't pay yacht couple's kidnappers”

Hostage negotiators will not meet Somali pirates’ £4.2m (€4.7m) ransom demand for the safe return of Paul and Rachel Chandler, it appeared today.

In a phone call taken by the BBC last night, one of the pirates is reported as saying: “If they do not harm us, we will not harm them – we only need a little amount of seven million dollars.”

But after seeing the report, the UK Foreign Office said the Government would not make any “substantive concessions to hostage-takers, and that includes the payment of ransom”.

Mr Chandler, 59, and his wife, 55, from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, were captured in the early hours of Friday when armed men boarded their yacht.

Leah Mickleborough, the couple’s niece, said the family had been unaware of the ransom request before they saw it on BBC News 24.

She said: “We had no idea what the figure would be. We have seen the report on the BBC and we will look into it.”

The caller is reported to have the amount would cover damage caused by Nato.

He told the corporation: “Nato operations have had a lot of negative impact here, they have destroyed a lot of equipment belonging to the poor local fishermen.

“They arrest fishermen and destroy their equipment, in defiance of our local administrations.

“They illegally transfer the fishermen to their own prisons, and prisons of other foreign countries, so when you consider the damage and all the people affected, we say the amount is not big.”

The ransom request came after Mrs Chandler broke down in tears during her first contact since being taken hostage by Somali pirates a week ago.

Mrs Chandler urged her family not to worry, saying she and husband Paul were “safe” and described their captors as “very hospitable people”.

But the strain of being held at gunpoint since last Friday showed as Mrs Chandler broke down during a conversation with her brother Stephen Collett.

Mr Chandler also sounded stressed during the phone call which was broadcast on ITV News today.

He spoke slowly and gave little away, in contrast to his calm demeanour when he made first contact with the outside world via the broadcaster yesterday.

Mrs Chandler told her brother: “Please don’t worry about us, we’re managing.”

She added: “I’m bearing up. Thank you for everything you’re doing.”

Mrs Chandler reassured her brother that she was being well cared for and managed to compose herself to continue the conversation.

“We’re safe,” she said. If we want anything they will provide it in terms of food and water. They are very hospitable people. Physically we’re fine, physically we’re healthy.”

Mrs Chandler was unable to say where the couple were being held. Mr Collett asked his brother-in-law if he was being well looked after. Mr Chandler replied: “So far, yes.”

Mr Collett made a direct appeal to the pirates to release the couple during today’s telephone call.

“My sister and her husband are blameless tourists and if you release them it would show your compassionate nature and it would be positive to everyone. Thank you,” he said.

As the Chandlers’ ordeal entered its second week, British government officials held urgent talks on their plight at the Cobra emergency briefing room.

The couple were taken hostage as they sailed from the Seychelles towards Tanzania.

They were forced to sail towards Somalia before being moved on to a container ship, the Kota Wajar, which was seized by the pirates earlier this month.

Mr Chandler told ITV News that he was aboard the Kota Wajar.

His wife said they had been moved from the ship but was not able to say where they were being held.

A man, who identified himself only by his first name, Abdinor, and who claimed to speak for the Somali kidnappers, said the couple spent last night in the coastal town of Harardhere, a pirate stronghold.

They are thought to have been moved to a ship anchored off the eastern coast of Somalia as the pirates try to stay one step ahead of the authorities.

Mrs Chandler’s sister-in-law Christine Collett said the family did not want to comment on how they felt after yesterday’s phone call.

She would not be drawn on how they might approach any ransom demand and said: “We are doing everything in the best interests for Rachel and Paul. I honestly think it’s best not to talk about such things.”

Mrs Collett, 52, and her husband Stephen, 58, of Ixworth, Suffolk, were among family members who met Somali prime minister Omar Sharmarke in London on Wednesday.

Mr Sharmarke moved last night to reassure relatives that the pirates “do not have any history of harming their hostages”.

He said: “The TFG (Transitional Federal Government) is attempting to make direct contact with those holding the British couple through local traditional elders.

“We are trying to explain that this couple can offer no commercial reward and that their boat is all they have. We are asking them to make a gesture of goodwill and to release Paul and Rachel Chandler.

“I must reiterate that we are doing what we can for all the hostages and all the hostage situations must be resolved peacefully.

“The pirates do not have any history of harming their hostages and we are determined that this, at least, will not change.”