The Belgian government has secured the release of a crew held captive for 10 weeks on the Somali coast, by delivering a

ransom to pirates at sea. Belgian : 比利時的 secure : 弄到,獲得 crew : 全體船員 captive : 俘虜

The government said the Pompei dredger's 10-member crew was in good health and would be flown home within a few days.

Defence Minister Pieter De Crem said the government had paid a ransom, though he would not disclose the exact amount.

The pirates had asked for $8 million to release the ship that had held two Belgians, three Filipinos and four Croatians

prisoner since April 18. ------ Croatians : 克羅埃西亞人 Croatia : a country in Eastern Europe

De Crem said the money was dropped into the sea near the stranded ship on Saturday, which led to some 10 pirates

abandoning their position on the ship early Sunday. ------ stranded : 擱淺, 處於困境, 無法脫離目前處境

The government considered taking military action to retrieve the ship and its crew, De Crem said, but eventually decided

that option was "not desirable" because it could endanger the hostages.

Negotiations had involved a middleman, who was occasionally able to provide messages from the captain to Belgian officials.

middleman : 中間人, 經紀人, 掮客

The Pompei crew is only one of many victims of piracy, a criminal enterprise that has thrived in and around Somalia's

coastline since that country's government fell nearly 20 years ago. ------ piracy : 海盜行為

Most recently, pirate activity has declined in the region because of seasonal monsoons. ------ monsoons : (印度的)季風;雨季

Belgian police say they intend to sweep the Pompei for forensic and DNA evidence when it reaches harbour, with hopes of one day

tracking down the pirates who were involved. ------ sweep : 用電子設備掃查 forensic : 鑑識的, 法醫的

"We think there is a chance" that some of the pirates might be caught and brought to justice, Johan Delmulle,

a Belgian federal prosecutor, told reporters Sunday.