Pirates release Greek tanker; owners mum on ransom

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A spokesman from Greece's Merchant Marine Ministry says pirates have released a Greekowned chemical tanker that was hijacked in September and that the crew is safe.

Spokesman Constantine Gialelis has told The Associated Press the MV Genius is on its way to the United Arab Emirates and is about 500 miles (800 kilometers) off Somalia.

Gialelis says the ship was released Friday and that "Its cargo is intact and the crew are safe."

Somali pirates seized the vessel in late September in the Gulf of Aden near the Horn of Africa. Gialelis says the crew of 19 is comprised of Georgian, Sri Lankan and Syrian citizens.

Gialelis said Saturday that the ship's owners will not provide any information, including whether any ransom was paid, citing safety reasons.