A RUSSIAN villager discovered a stockpile of Kalashnikov assault rifles hidden in the wooden crates he bought for 500 roubles (€12) from a stranger to use as fuel for his stove.

NATO agreed last night to resume formal ties with Russia, suspended after Moscow’s war with Georgia, in the hope of winning Russian backing for its struggle to stabilise Afghanistan.

Somali pirates who hijacked Saudi oil super-tanker Sirius Star yesterday demanded $25 million (€19.9m) in ransom and set a 10-day deadline amid mounting calls for tougher action on sea bandits.

Russia today criticised the European Union for threatening to postpone talks on a new partnership deal over the war in Georgia.

RUSSIA last night warned NATO over its naval presence in the Black Sea as Western powers lined up to condemn Moscow’s decision to recognise the independence of two Georgian rebel regions.

Russia took the first steps towards a troop pullback from Georgia, but at the same time paraded blindfolded and bound prisoners on armoured vehicles and seized four US Humvees.

US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice is expected to push Nato allies today to cut back top-level meetings and military co-operation with Russia unless Moscow sticks to its ceasefire pledge to withdraw troops from Georgia.

Vladimir Putin issued a sharp warning to the West about the consequences of recognising Kosovo’s independence, saying the decision would “come back to knock them on the head”.

Russia's envoy to Nato warned the alliance today against overstepping its mandate in Kosovo and said Moscow might be forced to use "brute military force" to maintain respect on the world scene.

A British remote-controlled vehicle cut loose a Russian mini-submarine that had been snarled on undersea cables for three days deep in the Pacific, and it surfaced today with its crew safe.

Russian MPs are to consider an electoral amendment next week that could open the way for President Vladimir Putin to run for a third term, prompting opposition MPs to accuse Kremlin supporters of trying to cling to power.

Hopes for the safe release of dozens of foreigners, including two British citizens, being held hostage by Chechen rebels in a Moscow theatre, appeared dashed today amid claims of a deadlock in negotiations.

Gunmen holding hundreds of hostages in a Moscow theatre today released eight children.

Senior Russian and US officials began consultations in Moscow today that were expected to focus on potential terrorist threats coming from groups based in Afghanistan.