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US diplomats held near Russian rocket test site | US diplomats held near Russian rocket test site |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three US diplomats were taken off a train on Monday while heading to an Arctic city near the site of a military testing accident in northern Russia. | Three US diplomats were taken off a train on Monday while heading to an Arctic city near the site of a military testing accident in northern Russia. |
The trio were bound for the port of Severodvinsk, where access is restricted for foreign nationals. | The trio were bound for the port of Severodvinsk, where access is restricted for foreign nationals. |
Severodvinsk hosts a naval shipyard and is close to a rocket test site where a deadly explosion in August led to a spike in radiation levels. | Severodvinsk hosts a naval shipyard and is close to a rocket test site where a deadly explosion in August led to a spike in radiation levels. |
Russia said the three had stated they would visit the city of Arkhangelsk. | Russia said the three had stated they would visit the city of Arkhangelsk. |
That city, the regional capital, is about 30km (21 miles) away. | That city, the regional capital, is about 30km (21 miles) away. |
In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry said the US diplomats were on an official trip and had informed the Russian defence ministry of their plans. | In a statement, Russia's foreign ministry said the US diplomats were on an official trip and had informed the Russian defence ministry of their plans. |
"Only, they said their intention was to visit Arkhangelsk and they ended up en route to Severodvinsk," it added. | "Only, they said their intention was to visit Arkhangelsk and they ended up en route to Severodvinsk," it added. |
"They probably got lost. We are ready to give the US embassy a map [of Russia]." | |
A spokesman for the US state department in Washington said: "The American diplomats were on official travel and had properly notified Russian authorities of their travel." | A spokesman for the US state department in Washington said: "The American diplomats were on official travel and had properly notified Russian authorities of their travel." |
Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom acknowledged that five of its nuclear workers were killed in the 8 August explosion during a nuclear-powered rocket engine test near the village of Nyonoksa, to the west of Severodvinsk. | Russia's state nuclear agency Rosatom acknowledged that five of its nuclear workers were killed in the 8 August explosion during a nuclear-powered rocket engine test near the village of Nyonoksa, to the west of Severodvinsk. |
Radiation levels in Severodvinsk rose 16 times above normal after the accident, Russia's weather service reported. | Radiation levels in Severodvinsk rose 16 times above normal after the accident, Russia's weather service reported. |
The radiation would have posed little threat to humans, nuclear experts said. | The radiation would have posed little threat to humans, nuclear experts said. |
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