Helicopter-borne French troops swooped in on Somali pirates Friday after they released 30 hostages from a yacht, capturing six of them and recovering sacks of money _ apparently ransom paid by the yacht's owners to win the crew's release, according to AP. The president's office said the pirates are now being held on a French Navy vessel. French Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin said no public money was used to pay a ransom. But he hinted heavily that the boat's owners did hand over money, and that some of the ransom was recovered when the pirates were caught. The general said French troops had recovered «interesting bags.»
