January 10, 2000
Web posted at: 9:04 p.m. EST (0204 GMT)

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MOSCOW (CNN) -- A Russian soldier was shot and critically wounded by a U.S. Marine guard after entering the U.S. Embassy compound in Moscow on Monday, U.S. and Russian officials said.

A spokesman for the U.S. Embassy said the man entered the compound about 6:50 p.m. and started an embassy vehicle.

The spokesman said guards believed the man was endangering the lives and safety of embassy personnel.

State Department spokesman James Rubin told a U.S. news briefing that after the man was warned several times to stop, "he was subdued by force."

Incident regarded as 'hooliganism'

In Washington, National Security Council spokesman David Leavy said the White House views the incident more as "hooliganism" than something "nefarious."

The intruder was taken to a nearby hospital, Rubin said. Russian officials confirmed that the man underwent surgery, and a hospital spokesperson said he would survive his injuries. No one at the embassy was hurt.

Russian security service, military and police investigators were at the scene, saying an investigation is under way, but would not comment officially as to the motive of the intruder.

Investigator: Intruder was drunk

The man was a 23-year-old soldier, Russian officials said. An unidentified Russian investigator told CNN at the scene, the man was intoxicated, saying, "A drunk man accidentally ended up on the territory (of the embassy), sat in a car and tried to drive away."

Russian officials said a second soldier also was being sought in the incident, but U.S. embassy officials said they knew only about the man who had been shot.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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