(CNN) -- Sentencing was delayed Tuesday for a Somali pirate who prosecutors say led the attack on a U.S. vessel off the coast of Africa last year. The sentencing hearing for Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse was adjourned until a later date. No reason was immediately provided by the court or prosecutors for the delay. Muse has pleaded guilty to charges he hijacked the ship and kidnapped its captain. Prosecutors say Muse acted as the ringleader when he and three other men seized the U.S-flagged Maersk Alabama by force about 350 miles off the coast of Somalia on April 8, 2009. Once on board, the armed men demanded the ship be stopped, then took a lifeboat and held the captain of the ship, Richard Phillips, hostage on it.
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NEW: No reason given for postponement
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Prosecutors say Muse was the ringleader
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Muse apologized for his actions and blamed the incident on the Somali government
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He could receive a maximum sentence of almost 34 years
He added that he did not recognize the @placeholder flag on the Maersk Alabama.