Divers begin cutting into Kursk

Divers have begun cutting holes in the hull of the Russian nuclear submarine Kursk, which sank in the Barents Sea last August, in order to attach steel cables so that the vessel can be hoisted to the surface.

Earlier the divers had carried out checks at the front section of the submarine and confirmed that there were no unexploded weapons.

The front section contained 18 torpedoes and 24 cruise missiles when the vessel sank, with the loss of all 118 men on board.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service