Planes depart Vienna after apparent spy exchange (Third Lead)
By DPA, IANSFriday, July 9, 2010
VIENNA - A Russian and an American plane believed to be carrying spies for one of the biggest exchanges ever between Moscow and Washington took off from the Austrian capital after landing about an hour earlier.
The BBC reported that the exchange of four American spies and 10 Russian spies was believed to have taken place on the tarmac of Vienna International Airport.
The Russian Yakovlev Yak-42 took off about 12.30 p.m. (1030 GMT) and the American plane, marked Vision Airlines, took off some 15 minutes later.
The apparent exchange came after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev pardoned four men early Friday after they admitted their guilt.
The US deported 10 people who pleaded guilty Thursday in New York federal court of spying for Russia.
