Pressure mounts on Spain over Somali piracy drama (Roundup)

Nov 5, 2009, 11:20 GMT

Vigo/Madrid - Pressure was mounting Thursday on the Spanish government over the fate of 36 fishermen held by Somali pirates, as the pirates took three of the captives from on board their vessel to Somalia.

Wives of some of the fishermen still on board said the pirates were threatening to take more of them to Somalia, unless Spain released two of their accomplices who are in custody in Madrid.

The pirates had threatened to hand some of the fishermen over to the families of the two suspects, who were captured by a Spanish frigate and flown to Spain on October 12.

Drinking water and food were running out on MS Alakrana, where pirates were holding crew members 'at gunpoint,' according to two fishermen's wives who spoke to their husbands over the phone.

The Defence Ministry said the pirates had launched a grenade into the water and fired several shots into the air in an apparent attempt to step up pressure.

The pirates were trying to get the biggest possible ransom, ministry sources said.

The same group had used similar tactics with the Hansa Stavanger, a German freighter which was let go after four months, the sources explained.

The pirates then said they had received a ransom of 2.7 million dollars. Spanish reports have said they want 4 million dollars for the Alakrana.

The government was doing all it could to release the Alakrana crew as soon as possible, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega said.

The Alakrana was seized in the Indian Ocean and taken to near the Somali coast on October 2.

Two days later, 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 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.

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.