Turkish tanker seized by militants in Libya

A Turkish product tanker has been seized by an armed group in Libya, with 11 crew members onboard held captive.

According to the Deniz Haber Ajansi news agency, the armed group detained the ship when it was sailing off the coast of Zuwarah city in northwestern Libya. The militants claim the owner of the vessel owes them $430,000 from an oil purchase.

The tanker Haci Telli left the Turkish port of Tuzla for Malta on February 11 and on February 24 arrived at Zuwarah port where it was seized.

The armed group said they will hold the ship until payment is made, otherwise they will sell the ship.

The North African country has been in a vicious civil war since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 with a number of ships and seafarers suffering as a consequence. Last month a car carrier belonging to Eukor was briefly detained by militants in Libya.