DAKAR, Senegal, Jan. 10 (UPI) -- The crew of a Russian fishing vessel detained in Dakar, Senegal, on suspicion of illegal fishing is in good condition, its captain said.

The 62 Russians aboard the trawler Oleg Naidenov are being supplied with drinking water by a French warship in the area, an official at the Russian Fisheries Agency told the news agency RIA Novosti Thursday.


The captain of the detained ship, Vadim Mantorov, said by telephone his crew is "feeling fine," although he said he is suffering from an unspecified pain in his side and awaits permission to leave the ship to visit a private clinic.

The ship was detained Saturday near Senegal's border with Guinea-Bissau on suspicion of illegal fishing in Senegalese waters, and is currently under guard in the Dakar harbor, RIA Novosti said.

The head of the Russian Fisheries Agency said in a television interview the environmental organization Greenpeace "prompted" the detention of the ship, an accusation the head of Greenpeace Russia dismissed as "strange."

Senegal's Foreign Ministry said Thursday an official cause for the seizure will be forthcoming, and that they intend to quickly resolve the situation.

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