US captain rescued from pirates

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1. Brett
   

   US navy snipers have shot dead three pirates holding a US captain in a boat off Somalia, in a dramatic rescue authorized by President Barack Obama.
   
   They opened fire from a nearby warship as a pirate pointed a gun at the captive, the navy said.
   
   A fourth pirate, who was on a navy ship at the time, surrendered.
   
   Capt Richard Phillips, hailed as a hero for his actions during the hijacking of his vessel last week, was unharmed and has been resting aboard a US warship.
   
   He has spoken to his wife and family back in the US and is said to be looking forward to celebrating Easter when he gets home.
   
   While defending the rescue operation, a navy spokesman acknowledged that the incident might increase the threat from pirates, whose mounting attacks on shipping have been relatively bloodless to date.
   
   Mr Obama said he was very pleased that Capt Phillips had been rescued and that his courage was a "model for all Americans".
   
   
   Capt Phillips after release
   
   He said he was resolved to deal with the threat of p****y in the region.
   
   'Imminent danger'
   
   Capt Philips was seized by the pirates last Wednesday after his ship the Maersk Alabama was hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean.
   
   The ship had been carrying food aid bound for Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda.
   
   After pirates scrambled aboard using ropes and hooks from a small boat and began shooting in the air, Capt Phillips told his crew to lock themselves in a cabin and surrendered himself to safeguard his men, crew members said.
   
   He was then taken hostage in an enclosed lifeboat that was soon shadowed by US warships and a helicopter.
   
   He tried to escape on Thursday night by diving into the sea but was recaptured by the pirates and negotiations broke down on Saturday, the navy says.
   
   
   "The on-scene [US navy] commander determined that the captain was in imminent danger," Vice Admiral William Gortney, head of the US Naval Central Command, said in a Pentagon briefing from Bahrain.

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