Somali pirates release Italian ship

Somalian pirates have released the Italian ship that they seized four months ago.



Italy\'s foreign minister Franco Frattini said his government is pleased that the vessel and its crew were released unharmed.



The Somalian pirates freed the vessel after months of negotiations.



Italy’s foreign ministry has strongly denied that a ransom had been paid, but released no other details about the talks with the pirates.



The vessel and its 16-member crew are expected home in about two days.



They were captured in the Gulf of Aden on April 11.