Malaysia in talks with pirates over crew on hijacked tanker

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia is in negotiations with pirates in the Gulf of Aden to broker the release of 39 crew on a hijacked vessel, the deputy prime minister said.

"Our hostages are safe and negotiations are going on to secure their release," Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was quoted as saying by the Malaysian state news agency Bernama on Monday.

He declined to disclose any further details.

Pirates seized a tanker owned by Malaysian shipping company MISC, and four others, off the coast of Somalia last week.