Storm halts work on Kursk salvage operation

A violent storm forced deep-sea divers preparing to lift the wreck of Russia's Kursk nuclear submarine to halt work yesterday, putting further strain on an already tight schedule of the salvage operation.

The bad weather also held up the departure from a Norwegian port of a support ship carrying cutting gear needed to saw off the vessel's mangled torpedo bay.

Two giant pontoons will eventually transport the vessel to a dry dock, where its nuclear reactors will be disposed of and investigators will look for clues as to what caused Russia's worst naval disaster.