Pirates move kidnapped fishermen from Spanish vessel to Somalia

Nov 5, 2009, 9:26 GMT

Vigo/Madrid - Somali pirates holding a Spanish fishing vessel with 36 crew have taken three of the crew to Somalia, according to the wife of one of the fishermen Thursday.

The pirates had threatened to hand some of the fishermen over to the families of two of their accomplices who are in Spanish jails, unless Spain releases them.

Three of the fishermen had now been taken to Somalia, and more might follow, Silvia Albes said after talking to her husband on the phone.

Albes' husband also told her drinking water had run out on board MS Alakrana, suggesting conditions were deteriorating.

The Defence Ministry said the pirates threw a grenade into the water and fired several shots, apparently to step up pressure.

The Alakrana was seized in the Indian Ocean and taken to near the Somali coast a month ago.

Two days after the hijacking, two of the suspected pirates were captured by a Spanish frigate when they left the trawler on board a skiff. The frigate Canarias was taking part in international anti-piracy patrols in the Indian Ocean.

The two suspects were flown to Spain on October 12 for interrogation and eventual trial.

It took the National Court weeks to clarify the exact age of one of the suspects, known as Abdou Willy, who claimed to be a minor. The court finally confirmed that he was an adult, and ordered his transfer from a youth detention centre into prison on Wednesday.

The Defence Ministry on Thursday called the two main associations representing fishing companies for a meeting to analyze the situation, after weeks of negotiations in a vain attempt to release the crew of the Alakrana.

The crew comprises 16 Spaniards, as well as Africans and Asians. The pirates are reportedly demanding a ransom of 4 million dollars.

Defence Minister Carme Chacon called for calm, saying two Spanish frigates and an air force plane were keeping an eye on the Alakrana.

The government recently allowed fishing companies to hire private guards armed with war weapons to protect vessels, but declined to place marines on board.