Suspected Somali pirates taken to Spain

The Spanish Defense Ministry says two Somalis arrested for allegedly taking part in the hijacking of a Spanish trawler have been brought to Madrid and placed in custody. The two are suspected of helping in the Oct. 2 hijacking of the Alakrana tuna vessel with 36 crew members aboard, some 375 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia.

The ship is anchored near an undisclosed Somali port while authorities work to free the ship's crew and vessel. Eleven pirates are believed to be in control of the ship.

The two detainees were captured by Spanish naval forces as they left the Alakrana in a skiff two days after the hijacking. They arrived Monday and will be brought before Judge Baltasar Garzon to face possible charges of kidnapping, criminal association and theft.