Spain negotiates with pirates
2008-04-25 13:45
Madrid - The owner of a Spanish fishing vessel seized by Somali pirates has begun negotiations to release the 26 Spanish and African fishermen on board, press reports said on Friday in Madrid.
Earlier reports had said the pirates were asking for a ransom of €1m.
Spain's ambassador to Kenya has also held talks with the Somali authorities in the capital Mogadishu, who gave their backing to attempts to release the fishermen.
The Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez has arrived in the Horn of Africa, where a Spanish air force reconnaissance plane is also on alert in Djibouti.
The preparations for an eventual military rescue operation were aimed at pressuring the pirates into accepting a negotiated solution.
The trawler Playa de Bakio was seized in international waters five days ago.
It was taken to the Somali coast, and then reportedly back to open sea, because the pirates feared attacks by rival groups. The vessel was now positioned at about 150km off the coast, according to radio reports.
Spain meanwhile formally asked the UN Security Council to take measures against piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Spain was working with France, the US and Britain towards a UN resolution aimed at preventing incidents such as the seizure of the Playa de Bakio, the daily El Pais said. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA