RF aircraft carrying Arctic Sea crew, 8 hijackers arrive in Moscow

According to law enforcers, one plane carried 11 crewmembers and another eight suspected hijackers and members of the investigative group that went to Cape Verde to conduct the inquiry.

Earlier, Russian Ambassador to Cape Verde Alexander Karpushin told Itar-Tass that four Russian crewmembers remained aboard the freighter in order to provide equipment maintenance.

According to the ambassador, the Arctic Sea is far from Cape Verde, in an area where Russia's Navy ship overtook the Arctic Sea at a distance of 260 nautical miles from the main island of the Archipelago.

Since early morning several military buses, special vehicles for the transportation of detainees and other automobiles have waited for the aircraft.

Speaking at a press conference, Russian Air Force commander Colonel-General Alexander Zelin said, "Therefore, the Air Force jointly with the Navy and special services fulfilled their tasks", Kazinform cites Itar-Tass. See www.itar-tass.com for full version.