MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian...

"The Arctic Sea vessel is currently in the open sea. Investigators have thoroughly searched the cargo on board the ship, and found only lumber. No cargo has been found except that registered in the consignment log," the Investigation Committee of the Prosecutor General"s Office said in a statement.

"A group of investigators will work aboard the ship for several more days," the statement said.

Russian and international media has been rife with rumors that the ship manned by a Russian crew could have been involved in an arms-smuggling or trafficking operation on a state level, including suggestions that Russia attempted to deliver missiles for S-300 air defense systems to Iran or Syria.

However, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed these rumors on Tuesday as "a complete lie."

He said Russia would conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ship"s disappearance.

The Maltese-flagged vessel, officially carrying

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