Families fear for fate of captured fishermen

The families of 36 kidnapped Spanish fishermen, under threat of death by Somali pirates, have come together to urge their government to give in to the brigands demands.

Spain holds two Somali men captured in connection with the hijacking of the tuna trawler Alakrana in the Indian Ocean in October.

The Somali gang wants them released.

Silva Alves is the wife of one of the Spanish hostages:

“We don’t want this getting any worse. Worse would be death or injury. I want to believe they won’t let that happen.”

The government has refused to free the alleged pirates, however handing them over to another African nation appears an option.

However, there is cause for hope as the three hostages taken onto the Somali mainland have been returned to the vessel.

The ships first mate, Ricardo Blach said around 30 volatile and heavily armed pirates are holding the 36 crew.

Copyright © 2009 euronews

tags: Demonstration, Piracy, Somali pirates