Somali pirates ask $4m for Spanish boat

Wed Oct 14, 2009

Somali pirates have demanded $4 million in ransom for the release of 36 crew members of a Spanish tuna trawler held in their custody since 12 days ago.

A 30-year-old pirate, Abdi Yare, told AFP on the phone from coastal Harardhere Village that the Spanish fishing boat, Alakrana, could be swapped with two colleagues of Somali pirates held in Spanish custody.

"We also demand four million US dollars (2.8 million euros) as a payment for illegally fishing in Somalia. After that we will release the fishing boat. Unless those conditions are met, we will not make any deal," he said.

Yare said that the value of fish the Spaniards have stolen from Somalia is more than the ransom they have demanded.

The two pirates held in Spanish custody were captured by the Spanish navy after they left the Alakrana on a smaller boat.

On Monday, the captured pirates arrived in Spain, where prosecutors are to try them for their role in the October 2 hijacking.

Nationals of Spain, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Senegal and the Seychelles comprise 36 crew members of Alakrana.

Source: PressTV.
Link: http://edition.presstv.ir/detail/108664.html.