Kidnapped UK couple plea for ransom talks
Kidnapped British couple plea for ransom talks
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Saturday, 21, Nov 2009 10:05
By Lewis Bazley.
A British couple kidnapped by Somalian pirates have said they fear they will be killed in the next week unless ransom negotiations begin.
Kent couple Paul and Rachel Chandler were taken captive by gunmen on October 23rd as they slept while sailing in the Indian Ocean and the pirates have demanded a $7 million (£4.3 million) ransom for the Chandlers' release.
A new video sees the pair asking for British authorities to begin negotiations to secure their release but the Foreign Office has insisted it does not make concessions to hostage takers.
"This is our 27th day in captivity," Mr Chandler says at gunpoint in a video obtained by Channel 4 News. "So far we have been provided with adequate food and water and facilities, and so we are unharmed and in reasonable physical health.
"Mentally we are under great stress and threatened. Our kidnappers are losing patience. They are concerned that there has been no response at all to their demands for money.
"We ask the government and the people of Britain, and our families, to do whatever you can to at least open negotiations with these people about money, so perhaps our lives can be brought back."
He adds: "We have been threatened that there is a terrorist gang at large in the country looking for us. We are also concerned that these people will lose patience and will not feed us.
"And I have no doubt that they will not hesitate to kill us in a week or so from now if there is no response. So, please somebody get in touch otherwise we just sleep-walk to a tragic ending."
Speaking with a gun to her head Mrs Chandler said the captors were growing "impatient" at the lack of a response to their demands for money and said the couple were "very concerned" for their future.
A statement from the Foreign Office said the Chandlers were "blameless tourists" but stressed no ransom payment would be made nor instructions given to relatives on how to transfer funds.
"The UK government position is clear: we do not make substantive concessions to hostage takers, including ransoms," a spokesman said.