Spain to hand over six suspected pirates for trial
By DPA, IANSWednesday, March 24, 2010
MADRID - Spain is planning to hand over to Kenya or the Seychelles six suspected pirates it captured off the coast of Somalia for trial, Spanish Defence Minister Carme Chacon said Wednesday.
The pirates were believed to have attacked a Panamanian vessel Tuesday, only to be repelled by gunfire from private guards onboard the ship.
A Spanish frigate forming part of the European Union’s anti-piracy Operation Atalanta then intercepted several vessels transporting the suspected pirates, detaining six people.
One of the vessels carried the body of one of the pirates who was believed to have been killed by the guards of the Panamanian vessel.
The Operation Atalanta was negotiating with the Somali authorities about the handover of the body, as well as with Kenya and the Seychelles, which have agreed with the EU to try suspected pirates, Chacon said.
