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"Despite the complexity, the Somali PM has confirmed the move to me and to the Spanish ambassador in Nairobi."

This was the statement of Spanish minister of Foreign Affairs Miguel Angel Moratinos, who on Friday afternoon said the three captive crew members taken from the trawler had returned to Alakrana.

The Spanish minister assured that the Somali PM Ali Sharmarke Abdirashid Omar informed the Spanish ambassador in Kenya, Nicolás Martín Cinto, about the fact that the three crew members --who according to Moratinos are "in good condition"-- had been released.

Tension

Somali pirates had threatened to kill three captive crew members from the Basque fishing vessel Alakrana if two suspected pirates being held in Spain were not freed, a senior officer aboard the vessel said on Friday.

The Spanish navy captured two Somalis in the Indian Ocean shortly after pirates overran the tuna boat Alakrana on Oct. 2 and took its 36 crew hostage. The two suspects are set to face trial in Spain on kidnapping and other charges.

Somali pirates have said previously they will not negotiate a ransom for the release of the Alakrana until their two colleagues have been freed by the Spanish authorities.

"They have taken three of our crew and have given a deadline of two days," the Alakrana''s first mate, Ricardo Blach, told Basque radio by telephone from the captured ship. "If in two days there are no signs that those two Somalis are being sent back here, they are going to kill them (the three crew members) and immediately take another three hostages. This is a lottery," Blach said.