PRESSURE was mounting yesterday on the Spanish government over the fate of 36 fishermen held by Somali pirates, as the pirates took three of the captives from on board their vessel to Somalia.

Wives of some of the fishermen still on board said the pirates were threatening to take more of them to Somalia unless Spain released two of their accomplices, who are in custody in Madrid.

The pirates had threatened to hand some of the fishermen over to the families of the two suspects, who were captured by a Spanish frigate and flown to Spain on October 12.

Drinking water and food were running out on MS Alakrana, where pirates were holding crew members “at gunpoint”, according to two fishermen’s wives who spoke to their husbands over the phone.

The Defence Ministry said the pirates had launched a grenade into the water and fired several shots into the air in an apparent attempt to step up pressure. The pirates were trying to get the biggest possible ransom, ministry sources said. Later the pirates said they had received a ransom of 2.7million (about R20.5 m). Spanish reports have said they want 4m for the Alakrana.

The Alakrana was seized in the Indian Ocean and taken to near the Somali coast on October 2. — Sapa- DPA