Somali pirates expected to release Spanish ship crew (1st Lead)

Nov 17, 2009, 11:46 GMT

Madrid - Spain's government Tuesday was expecting the imminent release of the crew of a Spanish fishing vessel held by Somali pirates for 46 days after the shipowner agreed to pay a ransom of 2.3 million euros (4 million dollars), Spanish media reported.

The daily El Pais said the sum of 2.3 million euros had not been officially confirmed for the release of the crew of 36, including 16 Spaniards.

The skipper of MS Alakrana told the daily El Mundo that the pirates had also received 'guarantees' that Spain would release two of the suspected pirates who were flown to Madrid for trial.

The pirates had threatened to start killing the fishermen unless the two were set free.

Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero informed opposition leader Mariano Rajoy about the 'possible release' of the fishermen.

A government crisis team was holding a meeting in Madrid while Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and Maritime Minister Elena Espinosa were meeting Somali Prime Minister Omar Sharmarke in Rome.

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

Two of the suspected pirates left the vessel one day after the hijacking and were captured by a Spanish frigate taking part in anti- piracy patrols in the area.

That move complicated the negotiations with the pirates who insisted on the release of the two.

They were now expected to be tried within a few weeks, but it was not clear whether they could be handed short enough prison sentences for Spain to be able to expel them.

Several possibilities were being considered, including that of the government pardoning them.

The Alakrana crew includes 16 Spaniards, as well as citizens of several African and Asian countries.