US and Russian 'spy exchange' under way

The US has deported 10 Russian agents as part of a prisoner exchange deal with Moscow.

A flight carrying the five men and five women left New York after a judge ordered their expulsion during a court hearing at which they admitted spying for a foreign country.

Meanwhile, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has pardoned four people convicted of espionage in Russia. They reportedly submitted a plea for pardon admitting their guilt.

It is unclear where the flight carrying the 10 Russian agents will land, or where the prisoners being freed by Moscow will be released. Unconfirmed reports suggest some form of handover may take place in the Austrian capital Vienna.

The 10 Russian agents pleaded guilty to "conspiracy to act as an unregistered agent of a foreign country." More serious money laundering charges against them were dropped.

Their New York court appearance was the first time they had all appeared in public together since being arrested last month.
Prosecutors said the accused had posed as ordinary citizens, some living together as couples for years, and were ordered by Russia's External Intelligence Service (SVR) to infiltrate policy-making circles and collect information, reports BBC News.