Russia: Subs off US coast no big deal

MOSCOW: Russia yesterday shrugged off a report saying Russian submarines had renewed patrols off the US coast, saying any movements of its vessels were legal and in line with normal international practice.

"Activities of Russian submarines in the world's oceans outside their own waters do not violate international maritime law and are within normal practice," a military-diplomatic source told ITAR-TASS news agency.

The New York Times reported earlier that two Russian nuclear-powered submarines had been patrolling off the US east coast in recent days, the first such move in several years and causing worry among US officials.