The Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied yesterday that a new Egyptian ship had been hijacked by Somali pirates off Somalia's coasts, as reported by some news. The person in charge of Egyptians abroad at the foreign ministry said: "The ministry hasn't received any report from concerned bodies regarding the hijack of a new Egyptian cargo ship off the Somali coasts". News had come in yesterday that the Egyptian cargo ship Egypt Grain had been hijacked while traveling from the Port of Alexandria to Cape Town (South Africa). Meanwhile, Ambassador Ahmed Rizq, assistant foreign minister for consular affairs and Egyptians abroad, told the press that "the ministry pays no ransoms and is not having any negotiations regarding the Blue Star ship hijacked off the Somali coasts". He added this had to be carried out by the ship owner. "The ministry facilitates contacts with the ship owner so that a ransom can be paid and the ship released" he affirmed. Rizq added that contacts with the hijackers on satellite TV channels and their reaching the public opinion strengthen their demands and prompt them to request exaggerated amounts of money.
