Two French nationals held hostage by Somalian pirates since September 2 were rescued by the French army, in an operation that also resulted in the death of one pirate and the capture of six others.

The office of President Nicolas Sarkozy said Jean-Yves and Bernadette Delane are safe. Sarkozy gave the green light on Monday for the French army to carry out the operations.

The two hostages were taken by armed Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden two weeks ago after their sailboat was captured.

The couple, from French Polynesia, was sailing a friend's boat from Australia to France when they were intercepted at sea by Somalian pirates in the Gulf of Aden on September 2.

Piracy has been increasing in Somalia, attacking fishing, luxury boats and cruise ships that ply along the waters in the region. French citizens have been targeted by the pirates in several occasions.

Foreign ministers from the European Union on Monday agreed to put up a special unit to coordinate warship patrols off the coast of Somalia to protect ships from pirates.