British special forces have rescued an Italian ship hijacked by Somali pirates, the Italian foreign ministry has confirmed.
In a joint operation with the Americans, a team of special forces met no resistance as they prepared to storm the 56,000-ton bulk carrier Montecristo - capturing the pirates and freeing the hostages.
The ship was hijacked 620 miles off Somalia on Monday by pirates in a small boat, according to the owners.
The Italians said that 11 pirates had been detained.
All of the 23-man crew from Italy, India and the Ukraine have been rescued.
Italy's Foreign Ministry expressed "great satisfaction" in the operation to save the D'Alessio Group-owned cargo ship.
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