WorldView

Marine Shoots Russian Soldier Trying to Enter U.S. Embassy in Moscow

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

JOIE CHEN, CNN ANCHOR: Moscow Monday, an intruder was shot and wounded at U.S. embassy. CNN's Eileen O'Connor with the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

EILEEN O'CONNOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It was about 6:50 p.m. Moscow time when, according to Russian officials, two Russian soldiers tried to scale the fence into the U.S. embassy in Moscow. One succeeded in entering the embassy grounds where he was confronted by a Marine and shot. U.S. officials say the man was acting in a threatening manner.

JAMES RUBIN, STATE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: He gained access to a vehicle and was using that vehicle in threatening ways. He was warned to stop. He was then subdued by force.

O'CONNOR: The wounded Russian soldier was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery. Hospital officials say he will live. According to the Russian news agency Interfax, the second man was taken into custody at a nearby subway stop.

Russian civilian and military investigators were on the scene, surrounding the car the soldier was shot in, but had no official comment, though one said the intruder was drunk.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): A drunk guy just accidentally ended up on the territory, sat in the car and tried to drive away.

O'CONNOR: A spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense condemned what he called the illegal action of invading private property.

(on camera): This incident occurs just as U.S. and Russian officials are reaching out to mend relations damaged by NATO bombings against Serbs in the former Yugoslavia and Russian bombings in Chechnya, making this an incident nobody needed.

Eileen O'Connor, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com