Armed men kidnapped two foreign sailors in Cameroon's port city of Douala, a source close to Cameroon's police force said on Monday, confirming a report by their ship's Belgian owners.

The two sailors, a Filipino and a Croat, were kidnapped on a vessel belonging to a Belgian company which was dredging the channel in the port of Cameroon's economic hub, said the source, citing information from investigators.

Around seven attackers armed with rocket launchers and wearing black jackets attacked three on Sunday evening including the dredger.

"They kidnapped the Croat and the Filipino. The captain of the Belgian ship told police that the attackers were speaking in English," said the source, who asked for anonymity.

"They retreated by sea. They were not able to enter the cabin of the Belgian ship. They did not take hostages in the first two ships, but did take money and mobile phones," she said.

The dredger, the Vespucci, was Luxembourg-flagged and belonged to Belgian company Jan De Nul.

The company reported the kidnapping earlier on Monday.

Source: AFP