Anti-piracy group calls for deal for Somali pirates

Paul and Rachel Chandler were seized while sailing from the Seychelles

A maritime anti-piracy organisation has insisted it should be allowed to negotiate with Somali pirates who have taken a Kent couple hostage.

Paul and Rachel Chandler, from Tunbridge Wells, were captured while on a sailing trip in October.

Nick Davis of the Merchant Maritime Warfare Centre said he wanted negotiations to begin soon.

A Foreign Office spokesman said it did not support negotiation attempts by third parties.

Recent video showed Mrs Chandler saying she was desperate and that she had been treated cruelly.

Mr Davis, who says he is an experienced negotiator, said: "They [pirates] don't want Paul and Rachel any more - it's costing them a lot of money to keep them alive, which is why they are releasing these videos.

"I have a suspicion they will soon lose patience.

"The government needs to understand that this could turn against them and for the amounts involved I don't think it's worth trying to bring anyone to justice."

The pirates have threatened to kill the couple if their demands for $7m (£4.4m) are not met.

Mr Davis said he could not negotiate without the "green light" from the Foreign Office and the family.

He said he previously initiated a £100,000 deal to start talks in November, but alleged the Foreign Office failed to return his calls and the deal could not be completed.

Will somebody please help? The government or somebody else Paul Chandler

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: "We have never attempted to block any activity by Mr Davis.

"Although there is no UK law against third parties paying ransoms, we counsel against them doing so because we believe that making concessions only encourages future kidnaps."

A video filmed by French news agency AFP showed Mr and Mrs Chandler held in captivity after a surgeon was allowed to examine them on Thursday, accompanied by an AFP photographer.

In the short film Mr Chandler said: "I just want to say please to my government get me and my wife out of here. We are innocent, we have done no wrong.

"We have no money and we can't pay a ransom. We just need the government to help, anyone who can help get us out of here.

"Will somebody please help? The government or somebody else."

Mrs Chandler was said to be suffering from insomnia and was desperate.

She said: "I need to be with Paul. We are husband and wife. We have always been together and we look after one another. I am 56 years old and my husband is 60 years old - we are not young people.

"These people are treating us so cruelly."

The Chandler's were captured while sailing towards Tanzania from the Seychelles on 23 October.