PARIS (AP) — French officials have filed preliminary charges against six suspected Somali pirates accused of taking two French citizens captive off the coast of East Africa this month, a judicial official said.
The six were captured in a French commando operation to free the hostages Sept. 15 and were flown to France and jailed.
Preliminary charges for "hijacking a boat" and "taking captive several hostages to try to obtain a ransom," were filed against them late Thursday, a judicial official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
Preliminary charges give judges time to investigate before ordering a trial or dropping charges. During questioning, all six acknowledged involvement, to varying degrees, in the case, the official said. Two said they were present when the couple were seized, while others said they were responsible for guarding the boat or trying to negotiate a ransom, the official said.
Elite French troops wearing night-vision goggles killed one pirate, captured six others and pulled the French Polynesian couple to safety in the rescue operation.
Somalia, which has had increasing problems with piracy, doesn't have a navy, and its fragile government has sought international help to fight the problem. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called for other nations to join in taking decisive action against Somali pirates disrupting commerce and aid operations.
France has gone further than any other nation in taking on the pirates. In another case in April, helicopter-borne French troops swooped in on Somali pirates, capturing six of them, after the hijackers released dozens of hostages who had been held on a yacht.
Associated Press writer Pierre-Antoine Souchard in Paris contributed to this report.
By VERENA VON DERSCHAU
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