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RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

The Kursk nuclear submarine at a harbor at a navy base near Vidyayevo in the Barents Sea near Severomorsk, undated picture. Rescue efforts Friday to find any survivors on a shattered submarine looked increasingly hopeless after Russian officials said the crew probably had no time to escape a " catastrophe that developed at lighting speed." (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/ITAR-TASS/Str) === COMMERCIAL INTERNET OUT, JAPAN OUT ===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

This picture, dated March 1995, shows the emblem of Russian submarine 'Kursk' at its base in Vidyayevo. The Kursk nuclear submarine, with 118 crew trapped in icy Arctic waters since 13 August 2000, is now lying on the floor of the Barents Sea, with a huge hole in its forward hull. The commander of Russia's Northern Fleet voiced 18 August his pessimism about the likely outcome of the drama. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO) ======

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

This picture, dated March 1995, shows Russian submarine 'Kursk' at its base in Vidyayevo. The Kursk nuclear submarine, with 118 crew trapped in icy Arctic waters since 13 August 2000, is now lying on the floor of the Barents Sea, with a huge hole in its forward hull. The commander of Russia's Northern Fleet voiced 18 August his pessimism about the likely outcome of the drama. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO) ======

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

This picture, dated March 1995, shows Russian submarine 'Kursk' at its base in Vidyayevo. The Kursk nuclear submarine, with 118 crew trapped in icy Arctic waters since 13 August 2000, is now lying on the floor of the Barents Sea, with a huge hole in its forward hull. The commander of Russia's Northern Fleet voiced 18 August his pessimism about the likely outcome of the drama. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO) ======

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

This picture shows crew members that died on the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk during the naval parade which was held in Severomorsk, 25 kms north of Murmansk on July 30, 2000. Captain Grigory Lyachin stands first right. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/str)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

The Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, which sank on Aug. 12 with 118 sailors abroad, photographed during a naval parade in the Barents Sea on Russia's Navy Day, Vidyayevo, June 30, 2000. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/str)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

This photo of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, which sank on Aug. 12, 2000, with 118 sailors on board, photographed at a Navy base in Vidyayevo, May 2000. (AP Photo/str).

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

The Russian Kursk nuclear submarine in the Barents Sea near Severomorsk in 1999. The Kursk, one of the biggest and newest submarines in the Russian navy, is trapped at a depth of 108 meters (yards) above the Arctic Circle in the Barents Sea, and rescue attempts continue Tuesday August 15, 2000. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/Str)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT PRIZ AS-28 UNGLUECK

A Russian mini rescue submarine, AS-34, called a Priz, left, the same type as the mini-sub trapped Friday on Pacific floor, is seen aboard the rescue ship Rudnetsky during the rescue efforts that followed the nuclear submarine Kursk disaster in the Barents Sea in this Thursday, Aug. 17, 2000 photo. The right mini-submarine is AS-32 type. A Russian mini-submarine carrying seven sailors has snagged and stuck 625 feet down on the Pacific floor Friday. A Russian vessel is trying to tow the stranded sub to shallower waters as the United States and Britain are rushing unmanned vehicles there to help in rescue efforts.(KEYSTONE/AP Photo/ITAR-TASS) ===COMMERCIAL INTERNET OUT, JAPAN OUT===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT PRIZ AS-28

This photo from 18 August 2000 shows the Russian "Mikhail Rudnitsky" vessel lowers a red-and-white stripped rescue capsule to be send to the sunken nuclear-powered "Kursk" submarine in the Barents Sea. The A-28 submarine of the same type sunk early 04 August 2005 in the area of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in the Far East of Russia carrying seven military sailors. According to Pacific Fleet officials there is enough air inside the submarine to support the life of sailors during two days. (KEYSTONE/EPA/ITAR-TASS POOL) === JAPAN OUT ===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

An image made available Monday, 22 October 2001 of the Giant 4 barge with the Kursk nuclear submarine beneath as it arrives in a dock at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, Sunday, 21 October 2001. Investigators were poised Sunday to begin their task of examing the wreck of the nuclear submarine Kursk for clues as to why it sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea on 12 August 2000. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/STR)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

Igor Spassky, the chief designer of the submarine Kursk, gestures whilst speaking at a news conference in St.Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2000. Igor Spassky said that 23 crew members who survived the initial explosions had a chance to get out using an escape hatch, but apparently couldn't do that because of injuries. A note found on one of the four bodies recovered from the nuclear submarine Kursk, testified that at least 23 men remained alive after powerful explosions killed most of the crew. A model of the Kursk submarine is in the foreground. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

== JAPAN OUT == MOS01 - 20001021 - -, BARENTS SEA, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : The Norwegian "Regalia" lays anchored in the Barents Sea on Saturday, 21 October 2000, off the coast of Murmansk close to area in which the wreck of the nuclear-powered Russian Navy submarine "Kursk" lays on th ground of the Barents Sea. Officials said, that everything was ready for the salvage operation in which the bodies of the submarine's crew members shall be recovered from the wreck. Weather conditions are regarded favourable for the operation that will most probably begin on Sunday, 22 October. EPA PHOTO ITAR-TASS/STAFF/-/sc/kr

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

The Giant 4 barge with the Kursk nuclear submarine beneath it is at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, Monday 15 October 2001. The docking of the gutted wreck of the Kursk was postponed for a few days because specialists say it is necessary to fix the pontoons that have been attached to the barge holding the wreckage. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/STR)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

MUR02 - 20011015 - ROSLYAKOVO, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : Workers unload an extra pontoon at the Giant 4 barge with the Kursk nuclear submarine beneath it at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, Monday 15 October 2001. The docking of the gutted wreck of the Kursk was postponed for a few days because specialists say it is necessary to fix the pontoons that have been attached to the barge holding the wreckage. EPA PHOTO EPA POOL/STRINGER/jt-hh

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

The mother ship Regalia, left, at the site of the Kursk submarine sinking in preparation Friday, Oct. 20, 2000 in preparation for recovery of the 118 sailors who perished in the Barents Sea. British, Scandinavian and Russian divers on Friday arrived at the site where the Kursk nuclear submarine sank and began preparations for recovering the remains of its crewmen. Ship at right unidentified.(AP Photo/Semyon Maisterman/ITAR-TASS)***COMMERCIAL INTERNET OUT***JAPAN OUT***

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

Chief of the Northern Fleet's special mission Vice-Admiral Mikhail Motsak (L) speaks on a portable radio transmitter as the Giant 4 barge (R) with the Kursk nuclear submarine beneath it arrives in a dock at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, Sunday, 21 October 2001. EPA PHOTO/POOL/STRINGER

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

An image made available Monday, 22 October 2001 of a part of the Kursk nuclear submarine appearing on a surface in a dock at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, Sunday, 21 October 2001. Investigators were poised Sunday to begin their task of examing the wreck of the nuclear submarine Kursk for clues as to why it sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea on 12 August 2000. EPA PHOTO EPA POOL/STRINGER/jt

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

Russian navy soldiers look at the conning tower of the Kursk nuclear submarine after it appeared on a water surface in a dock at the port of Roslyakovo on Tuesday, 23 October 2001. The Kursk nuclear submarine surfaced for the first time some 14 months after a number of still-unexplained explosions sank the vessel with 118 men on board. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/Str)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

The conning tower of the sunken Kursk nuclear submarine with the Russian double headed eagle emblem, left, appears from the water in dry dock after the Giant 4 barge deposited it at the northern Russian port of Roslyakovo, Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001. The Kursk, which sank in August 2000, killing all 118 crew aboard, was raised from the Barents Sea floor earlier this month and towed under a barge to Roslyakovo. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/ Itar-TASS) === COMMERCIAL ONLINE OUT JAPAN OUT ===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

The Kursk nuclear submarine appears at surface with a special net shielding at the place of the first compartment cutting in a dock at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, Tuesday 23 October 2001. The Kursk nuclear submarine surfaced for the first time on Tuesday, some 14 months after a number of still-unexplained explosions caused the sinking of the submarine with 118 men on board. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/ITAR-TASS) === JAPAN OUT/NO INTERNET/ ===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

In this image from television provided by Russian Prosecutor General's Office investigators and naval officers, bottom, stand near mangled forward compartments of the Kursk nuclear submarine in a dock at Roslyakovo, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2001. Charred and rusting cavities littered with pieces of twisted and torn metal are all that remains of the compartments where the nuclear submarine Kursk's commanders and most of the crew once were, investigators revealed Saturday. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/RTR-Russian Television Channel) ===TV OUT, ===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

TV-GRAB MOS07 - 20011027 - ROSLYAKOVO, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : The Russian NTV channel shows Russia's Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov speaking, with debris of the Kursk nuclear submarine in the background at the dry dock at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, on Saturday, 27 October 2001. The bodies of seventeen submariners were recovered from the Kursk and seven of them are already identified, Russia's Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov said. EPA PHOTO EPA/NTV/jt/mr

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

The Russian NTV channel shows officials investigating debris of the Kursk nuclear submarine at the dry dock at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, on Saturday, 27 October 2001. The bodies of seventeen submariners were recovered from the Kursk and seven of them are already identified, Russia's Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov said. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/NTV)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

The Russian NTV channel shows debris of the Kursk nuclear submarine at the dry dock at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, on Saturday, 27 October 2001. The bodies of seventeen submariners were recovered from the Kursk and seven of them are already identified, Russia's Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov said. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/NTV)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

A view of the dock where the Kursk nuclear submarine will go, at the port of Roslyakovo, near Murmansk, Thursday 11 October 2001. The Kursk nuclear submarine, which sank on 12 August 2000 with the loss of all 118 crew, will go into dry dock in Roslyakovo next week enabling the Russian navy to retrieve bodies and weapons from the sub and search for clues to the disaster. (KEYSTONE/EPA PHOTO/STR)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK BERGUNG

Journalists examine some fragments retrieved from the sunken nuclear submarine Kursk and displayed during a news conference in St.Petersburg, Friday, Oct. 13, 2000. No fragments of a foreign submarine have been found near Russia's sunken nuclear submarine Kursk, and officials no longer consider a collision with another vessel to the most likely cause of the tragedy, Russia's deputy prime minister Ilya Klebanov said Friday. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

A picture dated 29 October 2000 of an unidentified military sailor and a woman with her little daughter standing in silence as the snow turns their clothes white during the memorial ceremony devoted to the crew of the sunken Russian nuclear submarine Kursk at the ship's home port of Severomorsk, about 1,500 km (940 miles) north of Moscow. (KEYSTONE/EPA/STF) === JAPAN OUT===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

MOS08 - 20020812 - ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : Honor guards carry wreaths at the Serafimovskoye cemetery during the memorial ceremony in St.Petersburg for the Kursk submarine victims, Monday, 12 August 2002. The nuclear submarine Kursk sank 12 August 2000 in the Barents Sea. Russia today marks the second anniversary of the sinking of the Kursk nuclear submarine, which killed all 118 men on board in the worst peace-time accident in the country's military history. EPA PHOTO EPA/ANATOLY MALTSEV/vk mda

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

MOS05 - 20020812 - MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : Russian Navy veterans lay flowers at the Kursk submarine memorial monument that was inaugurated in Moscow on Monday, 12 August 2002. The nuclear submarine Kursk sank on 12 August 2000 in the Barents Sea. Russia today marks the second anniversary of the sinking of the Kursk nuclear submarine, which killed all 118 men on board in the worst peace-time accident in the country's military history. EPA PHOTO EPA/YURI KADOBNOV/vk mda

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

MOS04 - 20020812 - MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : Honor guards hold banners at the Kursk submarine memorial monument that was inaugurated in Moscow on Monday, 12 August 2002. The nuclear submarine Kursk sank on 12 August 2000 in the Barents Sea. Russia today marks the second anniversary of the sinking of the Kursk nuclear submarine, which killed all 118 men on board in the worst peace-time accident in the country's military history. EPA PHOTO EPA/YURI KADOBNOV/vk mda

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

MOS03 - 20020812 - MOSCOW, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : A unidentified Russian Navy veteran comforts a unidentified relative of a Kursk submarine victim at memorial monument that was inaugurated in Moscow on Monday, 12 August 2002. The nuclear submarine Kursk sank on 12 August 2000 in the Barents Sea. Russia today marks the second anniversary of the sinking of the Kursk nuclear submarine, which killed all 118 men on board in the worst peace-time accident in the country's military history. EPA PHOTO EPA/YURI KADOBNOV/vk mda

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

A picture dated 24 Ausugt 2000 of a man comforting an elderly woman - both relatives of 'Kursk' submarine sailors - as immediate family of the dead 'Kursk' crew pay their last respect to the victims of the catastrophe on Thursday, 24 August 2000. Relatives of the 'Kursk' crew aboard the Russian hospital ship 'Svir' were brought close to the site in the Barents Sea where the sailors died abord the Russian Navy's nuclear-powered submarine 'Kursk' following a tragedy on 12 August 2000. (KEYSTONE/EPA/YURI KOCHETKOV)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

Relatives of Gennady Lyachin, captain of the sunken Kursk nuclear submarine, cry in front of his portrait during a funeral ceremony in St.Petersburg, Saturday, March 23, 2002. Hundreds of mourners on Saturday bid a solemn, final farewell to the captain of the Kursk submarine and six crew members. The funerals were the last to be held for the crew of the state-of-the-art submarine, which exploded and sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea during training operations in August 2000. All 118 crew members were killed. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

Sailors march under a Russian Naval flag in memory of Lt. Capt. Maxim Saphonov killed aboard the Kursk submarine, near his grave at Perepechenskoye cemetery, just outside Moscow, on what would have been Maxim's 27th birthday, Thursday, Aug. 8, 2002, with Maxim's relatives and friend at left. The Kursk, one of Russia's largest and most advanced submarines, which exploded and sank during naval maneuvers in August 2000. The Kursk submarine tragedy that killed 118 crew members was caused by an explosion of fuel in one of its torpedoes. (AP Photo/ Maxim Marmur)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

A Russian Navy officer holds a portrait of Gennady Lyachin, captain of the sunken Kursk nuclear submarine, during a funeral ceremony in St.Petersburg, Saturday, March 23, 2002. Hundreds of mourners on Saturday bid a solemn, final farewell to the captain of the Kursk submarine and six crew members. The funerals were the last to be held for the crew of the state-of-the-art submarine, which exploded and sank to the bottom of the Barents Sea during training operations in August 2000. All 118 crew members were killed. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

MOS02 - 20020323 - ST.PETERSBURG, RUSSIAN FEDERATION : Russian navy soldiers march during the funeral ceremony at the Serafimovskoye cemetery in St.Petersburg as former governor of the Kursk region Oleg Sazonov (2nd L, background) holds a portrait of the Kursk nuclear submarine's commander Gennady Lyachin, 23 March, 2002. The last seven crew members from the Kursk nuclear submarine, which sank in the Barents Sea on 12 August 2000, were buried today in St. Petersburg. EPA PHOTO / ANATOLY MALTSEV

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

MOS01 - 20020323 - ST.PETERSBURG , RUSSIAN FEDERATION : Widow of the Kursk nuclear submarine commander Lyudmila Lyachina (L) and her son Gleb (C) pay their last respect by the coffin of Gennady Lyachin as an unidentified man (R) holds Lyachin's portrait during the funeral ceremony in St.Petersburg 23 March 2002. The last seven crew members of the Kursk submarine, which sank in the Barents Sea on 12 August 2000, were buried today in St.Petersburg. EPA PHOTO / ANATOLY MALTSEV

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with an unidentified relative of a seaman, who died aboard the nuclear submarine Kursk, at the closed military base of Vedyayevo, 50 miles (80 kms) north from Murmansk, Russia, August 22, 2000. The Kursk sank after an explosion in the Barents Sea on August 12, killing all 118 sailors and officers aboard. At center is Lyudmila Lyachin, wife of Grigory Lyachin, captain of the Kursk. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/POOL)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

Unidentified Russian Navy officer grieves during the funeral of Lt. Dmitry Kolesnikov, one of the sunken submarine Kursk officers, in Kolesnikov's native city, St. Petersburg, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000. The officer holds Kolesnikov's portrait. Kolesnikov wrote his wife a mournful poem in the days before he went on the ship's final voyage _ which ended when it sank Aug. 12 in the Barents Sea. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

Orthodox priests serve at the coffin containing the body of Lt. Dmitry Kolesnikov, one of the sunken submarine Kursk officers, during the memorial ceremony at Admiralty, in Kolesnikov's native city, St. Petersburg, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000. The coffin is draped in the St. Andrew flag of the Russian Navy. Kolesnikov wrote his wife a mournful poem in the days before he went on the ship's final voyage _ which ended when it sank Aug. 12 in the Barents Sea. (AP Photo/Dmitry Lovetsky)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

Unidentified relatives of Kursk's seamen throw flowers to the sea during a mourning ceremony devoted to the crew of the sunken Russian nuclear submarine at the ship's home port of Severomorsk, about 1,500 km (940 miles) north of Moscow, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2000. Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov and Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev arrived in Severomorsk to attend the memorial. (AP Photo/Ivan Secretarev/ POOL)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

A casket containing the remains of a Kursk's seaman is transported atop APC during a mourning ceremony devoted to the crew of the sunken Russian nuclear submarine at the ship's home port of Severomorsk, about 1,500 km (940 miles) north of Moscow, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2000. A casket is covered by a Russia's Navy flag, the flag near the APC's turret is Russia's National flag, the flags near the sailors' formations are Navy ones. Deputy Prime Minister Ilya Klebanov and Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev arrived in Severomorsk to attend the memorial. (AP Photo/Ivan Secretarev/ POOL)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

An elderly Russian submariner hugs a girl at the Vidiayevo naval base on Thursday, August 24, 2000, before she boarded the Russian hospital ship 'Svir'. Relatives of the 'Kursk' crew aboard the Russian hospital ship 'Svir' were brought close to the site in the Barents Sea where 118 sailors died abord the Russian Navy's nuclear-powered submarine 'Kursk' following a tragedy on August 12, to give them a chance to pay their last respect to their dead relatives. (KEYSTONE/EPA/Yuri Kochetkov)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

Relatives of dead 'Kursk' submarine sailors gather on deck of the Russian hospital ship 'Svir' to hold a religioeu ceremony and prayer at the Barents Sea near the site of the tragedy on Thursday, August 24, 2000. Relatives of the 'Kursk' crew aboard the Russian hospital ship 'Svir' were brought close to the site in the Barents Sea where 118 sailors died abord the Russian Navy's nuclear-powered submarine 'Kursk' following a tragedy on August 12, to pay their last respect to the victims of the catastrophe. (KEYSTONE/- PHOTO/AFP/YURI KOCHETKOV)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

JAHRESRUECKBLICK 2000: AUSLAND: KURSK TRAUER - A young woman with grieving expression on her face throws a red carnation into the waters of the Barents Sea as relatives of the dead 'Kursk' submarine sailors payed their last respect to the victims of the catastrophe on Thursday, August 24, 2000. Relatives of the 'Kursk' crew aboard the Russian hospital shiop 'Svir' were brought close to the site in the Barents Sea where the sailors died abord the Russian Navy's nuclear-powered submarine 'Kursk' following a tragedy August 12, 2000. (KEYSTONE/- PHOTO/AFP/YURI KOCHETKOV) [BAR114]

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

President Vladimir Putin, left, shakes hands with an unidentified relative of a sailor of sunken nuclear submarine Kursk as Irina Lyachina, center, wife of the captain of the Kursk looks on at a navy base in Vidyayevo , Tuesday, August 22, 2000. Vladimir Putin flew to an Arctic naval base Tuesday to honor 118 sailors killed in the submarine accident and console their families. (AP Photo/Vladimir Rodionov/ITAR-TASS)***COMMERCIAL INTERNET OUT***

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

President Vladimir Putin, center, speaks to journalists after his meeting with top scientists in the southern resort city of Sochi, Wednesday, August 16, 2000. Vladimir Putin said the situation with the rescue of the crew of a crippled nuclear submarine was critical and everything was being done to try to reach the Kursk. Other persons are unidentified. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/ITAR-TASS/Oleg Kotlyarenko) === INTERNET OUT ===

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

Russian soldiers read tabloid with headline reading : Who is to blame for a tragedy with Kursk ? in Moscow, Monday, Aug. 21, 2000. Norwegian officials said Monday there was no hope of finding any survivors alive on a sunken Russian submarine after divers had determined that the badly-damaged vessel was completely flooded. Norwegian divers had determined the Kursk was flooded and nobody could be alive, said Norwegian spokesman Capt. Rune Fredheim. The rescue effort was over and nothing further could be done, he said. (AP Photo/ Mikhail Metzel)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

Passers-by look at photos of the Kursk rescue mission on display at the headquarters of the ITAR-TASS news agency din Moscow, Wednesday, August 23, 2000. Russians lowered flags to half-staff Wednesday and lit candles in churches in memory of 118 sailors killed in a nuclear submarine as the vast nation marked an official day of mourning. (AP Photo/Mikhail Metzel)

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK TRAUER

Front page of a special Friday October 27, 2000 issue of daily newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda with headline that reads "They were alive" and shows portraits of 23 submariners who originally survived the blasts aboard the Kursk submarine. The body of Lt. Dmitry Kolesnikov, his photo at left on the top, the commander of the Kursk turbine section, was recovered by divers on Wednesday October 25 and a letter was found in his pocket. Fragments from Kolesnikov's message told a horrifying story of he submariners' struggle for life, saying that 23 survivors of the blasts had gathered in a compartment of the stern, hoping to get out through the escape hatch. (AP Photo)***RUSSIA OUT***

RUSSLAND UNTERSEEBOOT KURSK UNGLUECK

The Russian flag is lowered over the Kremlin, with the Ivan the Great Bell Tower in the background, in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2000. The Russian President declared Wednesday a national day of mourning following the loss of the Kursk nuclear submarine, which suffered a massive explosion and sank to the Barents Sea floor Aug. 12, 2000. All 118 sailors aboard were killed. (KEYSTONE/AP Photo/Misha Japaridze)