The pirates apparently have been bickering about what to do with the couple, who were seized more than a week ago while sailing through the Indian Ocean, with some pirates wanting to ransom them cash and others insisting on some sort of for captured pirate colleagues.

According to one pirate who goes by name of Red Teeth, the couple, Paul and Rachel Chandler were being driven to Baxdo, a small town about halfway between tho Somali coast and the main highway running through central Somalia. Red Teeth declined to say why hostages were being moved inland.

Some coastal residents said that as soon as Red Teeth’s men left for Baxdo with Chandlers, another squad of pirates heavily armed pickup truck chased after them, trying to recapture the hostages.

A man claiming to represent the captors demanded a $7-million ransom
for the couple.