The trial of a military specialist accused of treason was briefly reopened today at a court in Moscow, and adjourned until Tuesday.

The reason for the adjournment was not immediately clear.

Prosecutors say the accused, Igor Sutyagin -- who works at a top Moscow institute -- passed classified military information to American and British intelligence.

Mr Sutyagin has denied the charges, saying any information he provided was in the public domain.

A BBC correspondent in Moscow says the case has raised fears that Russia's security service may be attempting to limit contacts between Russian academics and western organisations.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service