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Russian Court Rules American Edmund Pope to Remain Jailed

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

LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Right now we want to update you on a breaking story that we have got coming in here. It is a story we have been covering for some time. American Edmund Pope, who is being held in Russia, facing charges of spying has been denied an appeal.

We go now to the telephone and our Steve Harrigan, who is following the case for us -- Steve.

STEVE HARRIGAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, we're just walking out of the courtroom now and American Edmund Pope, a 54-year-old businessman, is going back to prison where he has been since April. He has been in a top-security prison here in Moscow for five months now. His hope today was to get out on bail because he is suffering from a rare form of bone cancer, that plea was denied, so Mr. Pope is going back to jail. He faces charges by the Russians of spying.

Mr. Pope, whose business is buying and selling maritime equipment, is accused of purchasing top-secret plans for an underwater missile, a high-tech submarine. The Russians arrested him last April. He's been in jail since then.

Mr. Pope is suffering from bone cancer. He has complained that the conditions in the jail are making his condition worse. He has also not been allowed to see an English-speaking doctor.

Now this case has gone to the very highest levels in the dialogue between Russia and America. Russian President Vladimir Putin has discussed the case with U.S. President Bill Clinton, but so far no release for Mr. Pope. He's going back to the top security prison now in Moscow -- Leon.

HARRIS: Well, Steve, I recall his wife, Mr. Pope's wife, was with us a while ago expressing some grave concerns about his health there in that prison. Do we understand at this point exactly what is next in this case?

HARRIGAN: Well, what's next will be the trial, which will begin in October. Now the real concern here is over Mr. Pope's health. We saw him today. He was in the courtroom. And you know, the Russians keep their suspects in a metal cage. Mr. Pope was standing in this cage. He was wearing a suit, but he did look visibly frail. He was coughing. He has complained about the cold inside the jail and also of being hungry. He said these conditions are making his cancer worse -- Leon. HARRIS: All right, thanks much, Steve Harrigan reporting live on that breaking story this morning out of Moscow.

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