Russia demands explanation for US spy arrests

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MOSCOW, June 29 (AFP): Russia angrily hit back Tuesday at US claims that it had smashed a Moscow-organised spy ring, warning the spat could damage efforts to improve relations.
US authorities said 10 'deep-cover' suspects, accused of infiltrating policymaking for the Kremlin, had been detained for seeking details of US nuclear weapons and foreign policy.
Five accused appeared in court in New York on Monday and some of the suspects are apparently Russian nationals. According to US documents, the spy ring had been under FBI surveillance for a decade.
The Russian foreign ministry condemned the spy allegations made by the US Justice Department. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov demanded an explanation of the charges.
"In our opinion, such actions are groundless and pursue unseemly aims," a foreign ministry spokesman said.
"In any case, it is highly deplorable that all of this is happening against the background of the reset in Russia-US ties announced by the US administration itself."
The arrests Sunday in four northeastern US states came only three days after President Barack Obama described his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev as a "solid and reliable partner" at a White House summit.