MOSCOW, April 13 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian...

"According to reports from Russian embassies in Kenya and Norway, Somali pirates have released the Bow Asir tanker, seized on March 26," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

The Bahamas-flagged vessel with 27 crewmembers - a Norwegian captain and Russian first officer, as well as 19 Filipinos, five Poles, and one Lithuanian - was captured some 500 km (250 nautical miles) east of the port of Kismayo in southern Somalia.

It was released on Friday after the owners paid a ransom, the Norway Post newspaper reported, adding that the pirates had demanded $2.4 million.