Algerian hostages threatened by famine, fast

Relatives of 17 Algerian sailors held by pirates since January demonstrated Wednesday to demand their release, saying they feared the men would not survive Somalia's famine and the Ramadan fast. The sailors are among 27 crew of an Algerian-flagged bulk carrier seized on January 1 off the coast of Oman, with most of the others from Ukraine. "Seventeen Algerian sailors spend the month of Ramadan in Somalia, the country of famine," said a banner at a sit-in by about 30 relatives of the Algerians in central Algiers. The United Nations last month declared famine in two areas in southern Somalia, but the whole Horn of Africa region is affected by drought, food shortages and rising costs, with 12 million people affected. "When we last spoke with them by telephone, on July 9, they told us that they would do the fast whatever the conditions of their detention," the brother of one of the captives, Abdelkader Achour, told AFP. "With their being fed, when they are, with pasta and dirty water, I fear that they will return them to us in coffins," he said, also referring to temperatures of more than 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit). The month-long dusk-to-dawn Ramadan fast started on Monday. "They are exhausted, they can't take any more," said Leila Kehli, sister of another hostage. "They told us that if they do not come home before the fast, they were not sure if they could carry on," she said. The relatives have held several sit-in protests to demand the authorities do more to free the men. The government says it is "fully mobilised" and following the matter closely. Justice Minister Tayeb Belaiz said in January that Algeria will not pay ransom, saying it encourages criminals and finances terrorism. According to the International Maritime Bureau that monitors piracy, Somali pirates were at the end of June holding 20 vessels with 420 hostages and demanding millions of dollars for their release.