BERMEO, Spain - Spain says it is working to free 33 crew members of a fishing vessel held by Somali pirates as thousands of friends and relatives rallied for their release.

Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos said Saturday he plans to meet Somali leader Ali Sharmarke Abdirashid Omar in Kenya.

On Thursday the skipper of the vessel, Ricardo Blach, said heavily armed pirates had taken three of his crew members off the ship to the mainland. He said the pirates were threatening to kill them if two pirates captured by Spain were not freed.

Moratinos announced Friday that the three crew members had returned safely to the ship.