Militiamen in Somalia say they're holding captive four Ukrainian men who they say were illegally fishing in the country's waters.

A BBC correspondent in the area says seven members of a local militia group near the northeastern town of Allula captured the fishermen at a nearby beach.The Ukrainians had no food on their ship, and had only a high frequency radio with the capability of contacting other vessels in the Yemeni port of Aden.

There's been no statement from Somali authorities.

Earlier this month another group of Somali gunmen captured a trawler with thirty-three fisherman from Italy, Kenya, Romania and Somalia aborad.

On Friday, a self styled court sentenced them to pay 500-thousand dollars in fines.