Norway scrambles jets in Russian scare

OSLO, Norway, July 23 (UPI) -- Norwegian jets were scrambled last week after Russian bombers flew along its coast and over the North Sea.

Aftenposten, quoting military sources, identified the Russian planes as Tupolev Tu-95s.

The bombers flew last Tuesday along the coast of Nord-Trodelag and were tracked by radar. On Thursday bombers reappeared, flying farther south over the North Sea, where Norway and Britain have oil rigs, prompting Norway to send aloft two F-16 fighters.

In both incidents the Russian planes were in international airspace.

Britain also dispatched two jets to shadow the bombers, the report said.

Russia later said the bombers were on training missions.