Somali: Pirates have released a Greek-owned oil tanker and its 26 crew members who were seized 10 months ago in the Arabian Sea.

The MT Smyrni, which was carrying a million barrels of crude, was hijacked last May off the Gulf state of Oman.

Isse Abdulahi, who is understood to be one of four pirates who financed the hijacking operation, said: "We took $9.5million in ransom money."