Pirates release Lebanese-owned cargo ship

Nairobi, Kenya: Somali pirates have released a Lebanese-owned cargo ship seized last week as it headed to pick up food aid for Africa, a UN spokesman said on Monday.

MV Sea Horse was released Friday after it was hijacked on April 14, UN World Food Program spokesman Peter Smerdon said, citing the ship's operators.

Somali clan elder Abdisalan Khalif Ahmed said that gunmen released the ship after they found out it was supposed to pick up food destined for Somalia.

It was not clear if ransom was paid.