Thousands of people have demonstrated in Bermeo in northern Spain in support of the 36-strong crew of a trawler hijacked off the coast of Somalia more than one month ago.

Bermeo in the Basque County is the home port of the tuna trawler, the Alakrana. A second protest is taking place in the port city of Vigo.

The Somali pirates are holding the crewmen hostage. They are threatening to kill them if Spain refuses to release two of the hostage takers who were captured by the Spanish navy shortly after the hijack.

The protesters are calling on the Spanish authorities to accede to the hostage takers' demands, but the government in Madrid is refusing to comply. Spain has said, however, that it is willing to extradite the two pirates to stand trial in an African country.

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos is urging people to remain calm, arguing that kidnap negotiations are a complicated business.

photo: The Bermeo protest (EPA)