National
Reports - Financial deal agreed with the 'Alakrana' pirates
By h.b. - Nov 8, 2009 - 3:56 PM
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The families of the trawler 'Alakrana' in a press conference on Friday - EFE
However the pirates are continuing to demand the return of their two colleagues who have been captured and imprisoned in Madrid
El País reports Saturday that the Somali pirates who kidnapped the Basque tuna fishing boat ‘Alakrana’ and her crew of 36 more than a month ago, have now returned the three crew members they had previously taken to shore back to the boat.
On Friday the families of the captives held a press conference demanding the release of the two captured pirates who have been sent to prison by the National Court in Madrid and on Saturday thousands supported protests in Vigo, Galicia, and in Bermeo, in the Basque Country, demanding the return of the kidnapped crew. They were reports that the Spanish Government had been given three days to do a deal, or the hostages would start to be killed.
El País reports that a three million $ ransom had been agreed to be paid and the only problem was the return of the two captured pirates.
However the Spanish Government can do little as the future of the pirates is in the hands of the National Court and all reports indicate that neither the prosecutor or judge in the case see any possibilities of them being released. Spain’s Ambassador to Kenya was meanwhile due to have an emergency meeting with the Somali Prime Minister on Sunday afternoon, which Spain’s Foreign Minister, Miguel Ángel Moratinos said was aimed at bringing diplomatic pressure and hopefully a speedier outcome.
There are reports that the Government considers blocking the ports used by the pirates as a possible next step against them, considering the current patrols by air and sea as insufficient.