Pirates holding US hostage now demanding ransom

NAIROBI, Kenya - A Somali in contact with a pirate leader says the captors of a U.S. sea captain want a ransom and are ready to kill him if attacked.

The Somali, who helped negotiate a ransom paid last year to pirates who seized a Ukrainian ship carrying tanks, spoke Friday on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. He says he has spoken with a pirate leader on the ground in Somalia who is coordinating action on the lifeboat adrift in the Indian Ocean.

He says the plan is to get the hostage to shore to negotiate from a better position.

Four pirates are holding Capt. Richard Phillips, captured during a failed effort to seize the Maersk Alabama Wednesday.