THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Rabi Al-Akhir 30, 1432, April 04, 2011, SPA -- The Dutch Defense Ministry says its marines have killed two pirates and captured 16 in an operation to free a hijacked Iranian fishing boat off the coast of Somalia. The ministry says in a statement marines from the frigate HMS Tromp opened fire on the pirates Sunday after they shot at two Dutch inflatable speed boats sent to investigate a suspicious fishing vessel. Ten suspected pirates were captured as they tried to flee in a high-speed skiff and six more were detained on the fishing boat. The bodies of two suspected pirates killed in the firefight also were recovered on the boat. Defense Ministry spokeswoman Marloes Visser said Monday the pirates, some of whom were injured in the shooting, were being questioned on board the Tromp, according to a report of Reuters. --SPA 11:58 LOCAL TIME 08:58 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/880232