Spain To Join EU Naval Mission Off Somalia

MADRID (AFP)--The Spanish government on Friday asked parliament to approve the dispatch of up to 395 troops to the European Union's naval mission to combat piracy in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia.

The government also asked the assembly to give the green light to contributing two ships and a patrol plane to the mission, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa de la Vega told a news conference.

Lawmakers are expected to approve the request next week.

The E.U. mission Atalante, a coalition that groups eight E.U. countries, began operations off the coast of Somalia on Dec. 8 to try to stem the growing piracy in what is the first naval mission in the history of the bloc.

The mission is currently under U.K. command but Spain is expected to take the helm of the operation later this year.

Roughly 100 ships were attacked in 2008 by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden, a crucial trade route used by 12% of the world's maritime trade and 30% of its oil.

A fleet of 30 Spanish tuna trawlers operates in the waters near Somalia.

In April, the 26 crew members of the Spanish fishing vessel Playa de Bakio were released after being held for six days.

The government hasn't confirmed reports that the pirates were paid a ransom of $1.2 million.