MOSCOW, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin called British Prime Minister Tony Blair Monday to thank him and the British specialists he sent to rescue the crew of the bathyscaphe submersible, the Kremlin press service said. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov had previously thanked the British for saving the seven crew members Sunday.
The mini-sub became trapped in a fishing net and a network of cables on the seabed off the Kamchatka peninsula, nearly 200 meters below sea level, August 4.
On Sunday at 16:19 Kamchatka time (early morning in Moscow), the vessel was brought to the surface, after the remote-controlled Scorpio craft, sent by the British, cut through the nets and cables.
