Somali pirates want $5.6 million for Spanish trawler

[Somalian_Boqor]

Somali pirates want $5.6 million for Spanish trawler


Wed, Oct 14, 2009
AFP



MOGADISHU, SOMALIA - Somali pirates holding a Spanish tuna trawler for the past 12 days on Wednesday demanded four million US dollars ($5.6 million) for the release of the ship and its 36-member crew, one of the pirates told AFP.


Pirates are also demanding as a pre-condition of any deal the release of two colleagues who are in Spanish custody, Abdi Yare, a 30-year-old pirate told AFP by phone from coastal Harardhere village, off which the Spanish trawler, the Alakrana, is anchored.


"We also demand four million US dollars 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.



"The amount of fish they have stolen from Somalia is more than the amount of the ransom we have demanded," he added.


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


They arrived Monday in Spain where prosecutors want to try them for their role in the October 2 hijacking.


The Alakrana's 36 crew members comprise nationals of Spain, Ghana, Indonesia, Madagascar, Senegal and the Seychelles. --AFP

[stunnintolive]

great news somali pirates are proteted frrom the boats but the boats are not proteted from illegal fishing