According to the media reports, eleven Somalis accused of piracy and related federal charges for their alleged attacks on two U. S. Navy ships pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Norfolk, Va.

WTKR-TV, Norfolk, has reported that the defendants, originally charged with piracy and plundering, had additional charges tacked on to reflect their alleged roles in the April assaults on the USS Nicholas and USS Ashland.

The men's attorney contends they did not try to seize the Navy vessels for profit so piracy charges are inappropriate.

WTKR-TV also said that the suspects, ages 18 to 32, appeared in U. S. District Court in two groups. One group is accused in the attack on the Nicholas and the other is charged in the Ashland attack.

According to the TV station, with the aid of an interpreter, many of the suspects told the court they had committed no crimes. One man crossed his arms and said he was ready for justice.

It has further been reported that the men also complained of their treatment while being held in the Western Tidewater Regional Jail. The judge said the matter would be investigated and asked the jail to try to accommodate the suspects, who are Muslim, due to the upcoming Ramadan observance. (With Inputs from Agencies)