Austria frees Russia spy suspect

The row followed a visit by President Putin (R) to Austria in May

Austria has released a Russian space agency official who was arrested last week on suspicion of spying.

Russia had lodged a formal protest, saying he had diplomatic immunity as a member of an official delegation attending a UN space agency meeting.

The Russian, named in the Austrian media as Vladimir V, was arrested on 11 June at Salzburg railway station.

He was suspected of receiving sensitive information from an Austrian military officer, arrested on the same day.

The Russian official was a member of the Russian delegation to the 50th session of the UN's Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

The reason given for his release was that he was covered by diplomatic immunity, Reuters news agency reported.

The Austrian officer was arrested in the town of Gmunden, east of Salzburg.

A member of the air force, he was still in investigative custody, according to a justice ministry spokesman.