APA - London (United Kingdom) The United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth office Friday issued a statement after ‘impatient Somali pirates gave kidnapped British yacht couple ’one week to live’.

The government’s reaction follows another desperate call by Paul and Rachel Chandler, the British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates, revealing their captors were ’losing patience’ and they could be killed within a week.

The Foreign office described as distressful a video footage over London-based Channel 4 TV News, showing the couple surrounded by over 50 armed pirates in a Somali bush broadcast Friday night .

“Somebody should get in touch or they will kill us. As at today, we are unharmed and in reasonable physical health but the kidnappers are losing patience”, said visibly distressed Mr. Chandler.

He urged the Government to start negotiations over a ransom, saying ’I have no doubt that they will not hesitate to kill us, perhaps between a week or so now if there is no response”.

Rachel Chandler said “We are very concerned about the future. Our captors are very impatient”.’

The pair were worried that no negotiations were in place since they were captured in 23 October with their yatch en route to one of the Southern African states.