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DATE=8/21/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA SUB (L)
NUMBER=2-265679
BYLINE=LAURIE KASSMAN
DATELINE=MOSCOW
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Norwegian divers have managed to open the 
outside escape hatch of the sunken Russian nuclear 
submarine.  A British mini-submarine has been given 
permission to descend to the "Kursk" to see if it can 
gain access to the submarine. Correspondent Laurie 
Kassman brings us up to date.
TEXT:  Norwegian divers have forced open the outside 
hatch and found the escape compartment inside flooded, 
with no signs of life.  The next step is to pry open 
the inner hatch to let rescuers get inside the main 
part of the submarine. 
Last week, Russian officials insisted the escape hatch 
was too badly damaged to open.  A spokesman for the 
Norwegian military contradicted that and said the 
hatch was not badly damaged.  Norwegian divers managed 
to pry it open in the early hours Monday morning.
Russia's state television says a British mini-
submarine -- which arrived at the accident site 
Saturday -- has the go-ahead to descend to the Kursk.  
The rescue capsule could try to latch onto the 
submarine's escape hatch, create a watertight seal and 
open the way for rescuers to enter the submarine to 
check for any survivors. But a spokesman for the 
British Royal Navy told reporters the fact the escape 
chamber is flooded could make that operation more 
difficult.
The final decision to enter the Kursk submarine will 
be left to the commander of the Northern Fleet, who is 
supervising the rescue mission. 
Saturday, the Northern Fleet's chief of staff said 
chances were slim of finding any of the submarine's 
118 sailors alive, more than a week after the 
accident.  But President Vladimir Putin said Sunday 
the rescue mission will continue until the last 
possible moment.
His leadership has come under heavy criticism for its 
sluggish response to the disaster and his slow 
acceptance of foreign offers of help.  Relatives of 
the crew now complain that -- if foreign rescue teams 
had arrived sooner -- some of the crew might have been 
saved. (Signed)
NEB/LMK/WD
21-Aug-2000 03:21 AM LOC (21-Aug-2000 0721 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.