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Deported spies arrive in Moscow Deported spies arrive in Moscow
(about 2 hours later)
Ten people who spied for Moscow in the US have arrived in Russia after being deported as part of the the biggest spy swap since the Cold War.Ten people who spied for Moscow in the US have arrived in Russia after being deported as part of the the biggest spy swap since the Cold War.
They were driven away from a Moscow airport in a convoy of vehicles hours after the exchange in Vienna, Austria.They were driven away from a Moscow airport in a convoy of vehicles hours after the exchange in Vienna, Austria.
Four Russians freed by the Kremlin in exchange were collected by a US plane at Vienna airport.Four Russians freed by the Kremlin in exchange were collected by a US plane at Vienna airport.
The American jet flew to an air base in the UK before continuing on to an undisclosed destination.The American jet flew to an air base in the UK before continuing on to an undisclosed destination.
Washington said the spy swap had been completed successfully.Washington said the spy swap had been completed successfully.
Without mentioning the actual swap, Russia said the 10 people freed by the US had been released "for humanitarian considerations", and it noted "the general improvement of Russia-US relations".Without mentioning the actual swap, Russia said the 10 people freed by the US had been released "for humanitarian considerations", and it noted "the general improvement of Russia-US relations".
The exposure of the deep-cover Russian spying ring last month had raised questions about how genuine was the Kremlin's commitment to good relations with the White House - the Obama administration's so-called "reset".The exposure of the deep-cover Russian spying ring last month had raised questions about how genuine was the Kremlin's commitment to good relations with the White House - the Obama administration's so-called "reset".
It is being reported that the US gave Russia the names of the four prisoners it wanted released in exchange for Moscow's spies.
In another development, the UK's Home Office said it was urgently reviewing whether to deprive one of the Russian spies, Anna Chapman, of her British passport.In another development, the UK's Home Office said it was urgently reviewing whether to deprive one of the Russian spies, Anna Chapman, of her British passport.
She has the passport because of her previous marriage to a Briton.She has the passport because of her previous marriage to a Briton.
Gone in 90 minutesGone in 90 minutes
The 10 Russian agents, who include the Peruvian partner of one of the men, were jetted out of the US after admitting to spying illegally for a foreign country.The 10 Russian agents, who include the Peruvian partner of one of the men, were jetted out of the US after admitting to spying illegally for a foreign country.
Their plane landed in Vienna around the same time as a Russian government plane carrying four released prisoners, three of whom have convictions for spying against Russia.Their plane landed in Vienna around the same time as a Russian government plane carrying four released prisoners, three of whom have convictions for spying against Russia.
One of those with an espionage conviction is nuclear specialist Igor Sutyagin, who has always insisted that information he provided was available from open sources.
The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says the spy swap took place in broad daylight.The BBC's Bethany Bell in Vienna says the spy swap took place in broad daylight.
They were parked close to the main passenger terminals, rather than in a secluded part of the airport, she says.They were parked close to the main passenger terminals, rather than in a secluded part of the airport, she says.
Commercial jets continued to take off and land during the swap.Commercial jets continued to take off and land during the swap.
The rest of the airport was full of holidaymakers and business passengers, many unaware of the major diplomatic incident happening so close at hand, our correspondent adds.The rest of the airport was full of holidaymakers and business passengers, many unaware of the major diplomatic incident happening so close at hand, our correspondent adds.
Then the two planes took off again after 90 minutes, the Russian jet leaving first, bound for Moscow's Domodedovo airport.Then the two planes took off again after 90 minutes, the Russian jet leaving first, bound for Moscow's Domodedovo airport.
The American plane made a brief stopover at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, where some people were seen getting off.The American plane made a brief stopover at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England, where some people were seen getting off.
It was unclear whether any of the four prisoners freed by Moscow would stay in the UK or fly on to another country.It was unclear whether any of the four prisoners freed by Moscow would stay in the UK or fly on to another country.
Peter Earnest, a former CIA officer, welcomed the release of the four.Peter Earnest, a former CIA officer, welcomed the release of the four.
"This sends a powerful signal to people who co-operate with us that we will stay loyal to you," he told the Associated Press news agency."This sends a powerful signal to people who co-operate with us that we will stay loyal to you," he told the Associated Press news agency.
"Even if you have been in jail for years, we will not forget you.""Even if you have been in jail for years, we will not forget you."
An unnamed White House official told the Associated Press Washington had given Moscow the names of the four, and that the Obama administration had been considering a spy swap well before the 10 were arrested on 27 June.
The official said White House officials had first been briefed on the spy ring in February while President Barack Obama was made aware of the case on 11 June.
DebriefingDebriefing
The assumption is that the 10 spies now in Russia will be debriefed by the authorities and will be kept away from the media for the time being, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Domodedovo.The assumption is that the 10 spies now in Russia will be debriefed by the authorities and will be kept away from the media for the time being, the BBC's Rupert Wingfield-Hayes reports from Domodedovo.
The Kremlin's refusal to acknowledge the spy swap has even taken place is perhaps an attempt to hide its own embarrassment at the discovery of its spy ring in the US, our correspondent says.The Kremlin's refusal to acknowledge the spy swap has even taken place is perhaps an attempt to hide its own embarrassment at the discovery of its spy ring in the US, our correspondent says.
Moscow has reportedly promised the 10 incomes and housing, and to assist in bringing their eight American-born children to Russia.Moscow has reportedly promised the 10 incomes and housing, and to assist in bringing their eight American-born children to Russia.
The Peruvian may want to go back to her country but the others now face starting all over again in a country that some have not seen for 10 or even 15 years.The Peruvian may want to go back to her country but the others now face starting all over again in a country that some have not seen for 10 or even 15 years.
Russian TV and radio gave the spy swap blanket coverage on Friday after largely ignoring the story the previous day.Russian TV and radio gave the spy swap blanket coverage on Friday after largely ignoring the story the previous day.
Reporters and news readers were upbeat about the exchange, presenting it as a sign of an improvement in relations between the big powers.Reporters and news readers were upbeat about the exchange, presenting it as a sign of an improvement in relations between the big powers.
They spoke in neutral terms about the prisoners on both sides, merely listing the charges they had faced.They spoke in neutral terms about the prisoners on both sides, merely listing the charges they had faced.
But ordinary Russians took little satisfaction from the agents' undercover exploits, the Associated Press reports from Moscow.But ordinary Russians took little satisfaction from the agents' undercover exploits, the Associated Press reports from Moscow.
"They obviously were very bad spies if they got caught," said Sasha Ivanov, a businessman walking by a Moscow train station."They obviously were very bad spies if they got caught," said Sasha Ivanov, a businessman walking by a Moscow train station.
"They got caught, so they should be tried.""They got caught, so they should be tried."
Have you met any of the people involved in the "spy swap"? Send us your comments.Have you met any of the people involved in the "spy swap"? Send us your comments.