Somali Pirates Hijack Russian Oil Tanker

Somali pirates have hijacked a Russian-owned, Liberia-flagged oil tanker off the coast of east Africa.

The European Union's EU Navfor naval force said in a statement that at the time of the attack, the ship called the Moscow University was heading east with China as its final destination.

The ship has a crew of 23, all from Russia.

Russian warships patrolling the area are heading to the scene.

compiled from agency reports