ON BOARD NRP CORTE-REAL, June 13, (SPA) - A NATO warship rescued fourteen Indian sailors off Somalia on Saturday, a day after they were freed by pirates who had beaten them during 10days of captivity, Reuters reported. The pirates released the weakened crew of the dhowVishvakalyan on Friday after stealing provisions and kit. "They hit the crew all over, on the head, everywhere," theVishvakalyan's captain, Ismail Abdurehman said. The pirates took most of the seamen's belongings includingradios, phones, television sets and presents bought for theirfamilies. The pirates left only three chickens and the dhow'scat. The Portuguese warship NRP Corte-Real gave the dhow food and fuel. International navies are patrolling the busy shipping lanesoff Somalia to try and prevent hijacks that have worriedshipping firms, driven up insurance costs and prompted somevessels to avoid the Gulf of Aden.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/674385