Somali pirates have released a Spanish trawler and its 36 crew members after holding it for six weeks. Spain's prime minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said the pirates had abandoned the Alakrana fishing trawler and all 36 members of the boat. In a news conference in Madrid, Mr Zapatero said Alakrana was now sailing freely towards safer waters and that all of its crew members were safe and sound. The pirates earlier told reporters they were leaving the ship after being promised a ransom of 3.5 million dollars. There was no immediate government confirmation of money having been paid. The Alakrana was hijacked last month along with its crew, north-west of the Seychelles island of Mahe.<br/><br/>