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18 Sailors Freed From Pirates

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia's government said 15 Georgian and three Turkish sailors have been freed more than a year after their Greek-owned ship was captured by Somali pirates.

The office of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said he spoke Monday with the captain, Memed Zakaradze, who reported that all the sailors were fine.

The sailors were taking the ship Olib from Egypt to India when it was captured by pirates on Sept. 8, 2010. The ship, which was sailing under a Maltese flag, was to be scrapped in India.

The Georgian government said it was involved in negotiating the sailors' release, but would give no details until the sailors were all safely home. The Georgian sailors were expected to arrive home Sunday.

(AP)

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