The Egyptian ship hijacked off the Somali coast on Sept. 6 was set free on Saturday, the Egyptian state MENA news agency reported.

With the efforts of Egypt's General Intelligence Service, the Egyptian vessel and its 25 abducted crew are safe and now on theirway back home, said the report.

The Egyptian intelligence department held a 20-day talks with the abductors and the ship was released at about 6:10 p.m. local time on Friday.

Following the abduction, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit ordered to set up a crisis team to follow up the situation.

Pirates seized the vessel, El-Mansoura, off the Somalia coast while it was on the way from Pakistan to Djibouti with a cement consignment on board.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2008)