Russian plain with hurricane aid en route

Russia sent early Wednesday a transport plane carrying humanitarian aid for victims of hurricane Katrina in the United States, a spokesman for the Russian emergencies ministry said.

The plane, which took off from Ramenskoye airport near Moscow, carried 17.5 tons of drugs and was headed for Little Rock, Arkansas, the Interfax news agency quoted the ministry spokesman as saying.

Russia last week sent two planes to the United States carrying tents, food rations and blankets for Katrina victims, the AP reports.