The Russians Depart
Sydney Morning Herald
Monday April 30, 2007
* CREW members of the liner New Australia gave derisive cheers as the Soviet embassy staff, ordered home because of the Petrov affair, embarked on a ship at Fremantle. The Fremantle Quay area was closed for the Russians' departure.
* The Australian embassy staff received their exit visa from the Soviet foreign ministry and began final preparations to leave Moscow. The eight adults and two children hoped to leave as soon as was possible and had applied for tickets on a train to Helsinki.* Vladimir Petrov's Alsatian dog took up a lone vigil at the front door of his master's old home in Canberra. The security service was considering vetoing any move to return the dog to Petrov because it could give a lead to his whereabouts.* A murderer surrendered to police after one of the biggest man-hunts in the Northern Territory. The man, known as Jackie, escaped from Fanny Bay jail 18 months previously. He had been serving a 12-year sentence for murder. Many police parties had searched for him since but he had always eluded them.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald