As soon as they heard that Captain Richard Phillips had been rescued by the American navy-snipers had killed three pirates holding him at gunpoint on a lifeboat-the 19-strong crew of the Maersk Alabama whooped for joy. The cargo ship's horn hooted, flags were flown and flares fired to celebrate the release on April nth of the skipper who had given himself up to win the release of his crew.rnTwo days earlier, French commandos had also been in action. They freed four of their compatriots, including a three-year-old boy, held hostage aboard a yacht, the Tanit (pictured above). One captive, Flo-rent Lemacon, was killed.rnThe United Nations' envoy to Somalia, Ahmedou Ould-Abdallah, said such stern military measures "are sending a strong message to the pirates and, more importantly, to their backers". But for the moment the strong message has been met with strong defiance. Some pirates said they would kill French or American sailors that fall into their hands. There is little sign, so far, that attacks have been deterred. Since Captain Phillips's release, at least four more ships have been attacked-two of them were captured in the Gulf of Aden, the area most closely patrolled.
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