Russian plane carries 30 tons of relief to Haiti.

CARACAS, January 22 (Itar-Tass) -- A Russian Il-75 transport aircraft
that has been queuing for two days on a waiting list for a permission to
fly to Haiti, took off late on Thursday from Caracas with 30 tons of
relief, including five tons of drinking water supplied by Venezuela-based
Russian LUKOIL Overseas Company.
To speed up the departure Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who was at
the same time leaving for Bolivia, ordered air traffic controllers to let
the Russian airlifter take off before his presidential aircraft.
Russian Counselor in Venezuela Vladimir Tokmakov said the embassy
succeeded to agree the departure two days earlier, as U.S. air traffic
controllers initially issued the permission only for Saturday.
Russia provided two IL-76 aircraft to Venezuela that have been
delivering relief to Haiti since Sunday.
-0-nec