Hostages Seized by Pirates Return Home

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Dramatic New Video Released Monday By The French Military. Six Suspected Pirates Stopped And Apprehended In The Desert. The Military Says While Trying To Make Off With A Reported Two Million Dollars In Ransom. According To The Military, The Pirates Had Already Released Their Hostages And Were Making Their Escape, When Gunships From The French Helicopter Carrier The Jeanne D'arc, Fired On One Of The Get Away Vehicles Disabling It. After A Brief Chase On Foot, Those In The Car Were Apprehended. There Are Reports Part Of The Ransom Was Recovered. Those Arrested Were Flown To Another French Warship While It Is Determined If They Can Be Brought Back To France For Trial. The 30 Hostages, Crew Members Aboard A Luxury Yacht, Were Brought Aboard The Jeanne D'arc For Medical Examinations And Debriefings. One Crew Member Said They Were In Constant Fear And Slept Little During Their Week In Captivity. The Captain, He Said, Tried To Hide Women Crew Members Out Of Fear For Their Safety.

But None Of The Hostages Were Physically Harmed During Their Ordeal, And They Were Brought Back To France Aboard A Military Jet. President Nicolas Sarkozy Was At The Airport To Greet Them. Sarkozy Ordered Their Rescue And The Apprehension Of The Pirates As Well. He Was Beaming But Made No Remarks As He Shook Hands With Each Of The Ex Hostages, Who Then Were Mobbed By Their Families And Friends Who Had Waited Anxiously For News Of Thier Release. The Yacht Is Once Again Back On It's Original Course Toward The Mediterranean. And Military Officers Say They Hope The Successful Return Of The Hostages And Capture Of At Least Some Of Those Believed Responsible, Will Serve As A Warning To Others Along The Somali Coast...the Scene Of Some Of The Most Frequent Pirate Attacks In The World. Jim Bittermann, Cnn, Paris