Madrid - Spanish fishing vessels are allowed to hire private guards armed with war weapons to stave off attacks by pirates in the Indian Ocean, according to a government decision which entered into force Monday.

The guards, who may only work for authorized companies registered at the Interior Ministry, are allowed to use weapons such as machine guns and assault rifles in preventative action against pirates.

Spanish fishing vessels flagged in the Seychelles had already hired former British soldiers as guards.

The government has rejected requests by fishing companies to place marines on board fishing vessels, as has been done by France.

Somali pirates who have been holding the Spanish trawler Alakrana for a month were meanwhile demanding the release of their two accomplices, who were captured by a Spanish frigate on October 4, media reported.

The two suspected pirates were flown to Madrid for interrogation and eventual trial.

The pirates holding the Alakrana were threatening to hand some of the 36 fishermen on board over to the families of the detained suspects if these were not let go within five days.

The National Court on Monday determined one of the two suspects to be an adult.

There had been uncertainty about the age of the young man, who is known as Abdou Willy.

The court said several medical investigations had definitively established that the Somali was at least 18 years old. He was now to be moved from a youth detention centre into a prison cell. (dpa)