No progress in talks with Somali pirates

Owners of hijacked ship MV Jahan Moni claimed they could hardly make any headway over the rescue of the ship and its crew in yesterday's conversation with the Somali pirates.
However, families of several crewmembers on hostage blamed the owners for delaying in paying the ransom to the pirates. The crewmembers talked to their family over telephone on Wednesday night.
The ship owner Mohammed Shajahan denied the allegation saying they could not progress much as the pirates were not regular in contact.
He said the last evening's conversation is not worth mentioning.
Families of at least 11 crewmembers yesterday visited the office of SR Shipping Ltd, the owner firm of the ship, in the port city to urge the owners to pay the ransom soon.
A senior crewmember was quoted by his family members as saying the pirates had already told the owner firm officials how and whom to pay the ransom.
Mohammed Shahajahan, also chairman of SR Shipping Ltd, claimed that the person who was dealing with them on behalf of the pirates did not stay on board the ship much time and the pirates at times snapped the contact.