MADRID, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero expressed relief Tuesday as 16 Spanish fishmen, who had been held hostage by Somalian pirates for 47 days, were released.

    The 16 Spaniards were among the 36-member crew of the fishing boat 'Alakrana', which is based in the Basque port of Bermeo.

    Alakrana was seized on October 2, while fishing for tuna in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia in waters known for high pirate activity.

    The release is believed to have come at the cost of a 4-million-dollar ransom and the boat is now heading to the Seychelles.

    "The families have all lived difficult moments. We had a meeting with them and they did everything we asked them to do," said Zapatero, without confirming whether a ransom had been paid.

    "What needed to be done was done, working within the framework of legality. The most important thing is that the fishmen are back with us," he said.

    Two pirates suspected of hijacking the ship were arrested by the Spanish Navy and are currently in Spain awaiting trial.