French navy frees boat from pirates
The French Navy has stormed a hijacked French boat off the Somali coast after pirates threatened to execute the hostages.
One hostage and two pirates were killed during the assault in which four hostages were freed.
Defence Minister Herve Morin said French authorities had proposed a ransom but the pirates rejected the offer.
He said "negotiations were leading nowhere and the boat was approaching the coast" and President Nicolas Sarkozy gave the order to attack.
It is the government's policy not to allow French citizens to be taken ashore as hostages.