Russia Hands Over Japanese Fisherman's Body

(RFE/RL) August 19, 2006 -- Japan's Foreign Ministry says Russia has handed over the body of a Japanese fisherman who was shot dead by Russian border guards earlier this week near a disputed chain of islands.

Russia has expressed regret over the August 16 shooting, but has blamed the death on the Japanese side for intruding in Russian waters. Japan has rejected this.

Russia currently controls the disputed islands, which are known in Russia as the Southern Kuriles and in Japan as the Northern Territories.

(Reuters)