MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Somali pirates said on Sunday they had captured a Spanish fishing vessel in the Indian Ocean.

A pirate who gave his name as Ibrahim told Reuters by phone: "My men have hijacked a Spanish fishing vessel from the Indian Ocean. They are on board and safe."

Andrew Mwangura of the Kenya-based East Africa Seafarers Assistance Programme told Reuters by phone they were aware a fishing vessel had been seized, but its ownership was unclear.

The Spanish foreign ministry in Madrid said it was checking the reports.

Mwangura said pirates had demanded a $3 million ransom for a North Korea-flagged cargo ship captured early last month.

The pirates were threatening to kill the 10-man Syrian crew of the Libyan-owned MV RIM, he said. Somali pirates have received millions of dollars in ransom payments for various ships in recent months.