Iran 'rescues 28 Chinese seamen from pirates'

The Iranian navy has rescued 28 crew members from a Chinese ship hijacked by pirates, state TV reported.

The broadcast said the navy also detained nine Somali pirates in the operation in the Arabian Sea in the north of the Indian Ocean.

The pirates attacked the ship yesterday but they surrendered after the Iranian navy sent warships to rescue the crew and free the ship. The freighter was carrying iron and was heading to a port in south-western Iran.