The Russian state broadcaster RT reported on Wednesday that it 'looked as if U.S. troops were attempting to board the Venezuela-linked 'oil tanker 'Marinera'?from a chopper and published an image showing a chopper hovering near ship.

Could not verify immediately the?RT Report.

An official from the United States told a reporter earlier on Wednesday that they were 'attempting to seize an oil tanker sanctioned by the United States after a pursuit of more than two weeks across the Atlantic.

RT cited a?unnamed?source as saying that a U.S. Coast Guard vessel had been pursuing the tanker, and that an effort to seize it 'during a hurricane had already been made.

State media cite the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying that the vessel, now flying a Russian flag, was in international waters and acted according to international maritime laws. It has called on Western nations to respect the vessel’s right to freedom to navigate. Andrew Osborn (Reporting) Andrew Heavens (Editing)

(source: Reuters)