A French team of commando forces specialized in anti-terrorist and hostage rescue operations was sent today to Djibouti, in order to better handle Friday’s hostage situation.

Pirates captured the ship and its 30 crew members three days ago in the Gulf of Aden while returning from a seven-night cruise and since then there has been no concrete progress in negotiation. The yacht named Le Ponand, can take up to 64 passengers and has four decks, two restaurants and also indoor and outdoor luxury lounges.

According to USA Today, the French Foreign Ministry Bernard Kouchner said, in a press conference today, that it is in contact with the pirates, who reported the hostages to be safe, and also that the French military is monitoring the yacht by air and sea in the region.  He also said that everything is being done in order to avoid bloodshed and the ransom option for the freedom of the crew is also considered.

BBC News announced that the yacht is currently anchored off Somalia and all passengers were taken off.

The whole incident is considered a very serious affair and is not expected to be resolved any time soon.

President Nicolas Sarkozy organized for tomorrow a meeting with the families of the French crew members. Out of the 30 prisoners, 22 are French citizens and the rest Ukrainians.

Somali coastal waters are known as a very dangerous territory, actually one of the most threatening places in the world, last year alone 25 ships being seized by pirates.