News

Spain''s defence minister says the hijacking of a Basque tuna trawler in the Indian Ocean could drag on.

Carme Chacon says the 36-member crew of the ship Alakrana, seized by pirates on Friday, is in good condition and has not been harmed. She declined to say in ransom negotiations are under way.

Chacon told Spanish National Television Monday that there have been 126 pirate attacks in the region so far this year and 44 hijackings.

She noted that a German freighter was held for nearly four months before being freed in August, and a Spanish trawler called Playa de Bakio seized in April 2008 was held for a week.

The Spanish owned fishing boat Alakrana was hijacked by pirates early Friday. It is being monitored by two navy warships, rescue force commander Gen. Jaime Dominguez said.

Dominguez also said at a press conference Sunday that two suspected pirates had been captured as they navigated a small boat in the vicinity of the Alakrana. It was not clear if the two had come off the boat or were on their way to it.

Dominguez did not specify which port the Alakrana had arrived at.