国际英语新闻：Cyprus authorities believe suspected Russian spy may have left the island

NICOSIA, July 2 (Xinhua)-- Cyprus police sources said on Friday there is a strong possibility that a man suspected of being the paymaster of a Russian spy ring in the United States has fled the Mediterranean island.

The man, known by the name of Robert Christopher Metsos, jumped bail and is being sought after by Cyprus police. He had failed to report to a police station on Wednesday as ordered by a court that let him free.

A Cyprus police source told Xinhua that Metsos most probably is not any more in the Greek Cypriot south, which is controlled by the internationally recognized Cyprus government.

Robert Christopher Metsos, 55, a Canadian passport holder and alleged Russian spy wanted by the United States, is seen in a photo released by the Cyprus Police Department July 1, 2010.

"There is a strong possibility that he has either fled on a vessel from any of the many marinas in Cyprus," the source said on condition of anonymity. "A long shot is that he has crossed over to the Turkish occupied part of the island," he added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey militarily intervened and occupied the north of the island following a coup by a group of Greek officers.

The source said that the police have excluded the possibility of Metsos fleeing through one of the two international airports operating in the area controlled by the government.

Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said reports about his whereabouts are nothing more than speculation.

"We have only made sure by examining CCTV footage that he has not left Cyprus through one of the legal airports," Katsounotos said.

He also confirmed that the Cyprus police are in possession of a laptop confiscated from Metsos when he was arrested at Larnaca airport on Tuesday, as he was passing through passport control to catch a plane for Budapest, Hungary.