Russian officials say unidentified gunmen have seized a Russian oil tanker with 20 people on board and sailed it to the West African nation of Guinea.
The officials say 10 armed men dressed in black uniforms climbed aboard the Luchegorsk tanker Monday, when it was 65 kilometers away from Guinea's capital, Conakry.
They say the men asserted that the ship had illegally entered territorial waters. The gunmen demanded money from the captain before taking over the ship's communications unit and steering the tanker toward Conakry.
Russian officials say the ship, which was providing fuel to other vessels, is now in the Guinea capital.
Officials say 19 Russians and one Chinese citizen were on board at the time of the seizure.
There have been no reports of injuries.
Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.