French yacht seized

France said it has made contact with Somali pirates who seized a luxury French yacht and its crew of about 30.



Foreign Minister, Bernard Kouchner said everything would be done to avoid bloodshed and has not ruled out paying a ransom to free the crew.



The Ponant was boarded by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and is to be anchored off Somalia. There are no passengers aboard.



Somali coastal waters are among the world\'s most hazardous.



Pirates there seized more than 25 ships in 2007.