Estonia asks Russia for help tracking online attackers

Estonia has asked Russia for assistance in tracking down the people responsible for a series of internet attacks that effectively shut down the Baltic state's online infrastructure in May.

Estonia's Prime Minister Andrus Ansiptold a news conference in Helsinki, Finland, Wednesday that he was hopefulRussia would co-operate, according to Reuters news service.

The attacks, which peaked between May 8 and 9, occurred at the same time that relations between Russia and Estonia declined sharply. A decision to move a Soviet-era war memorial from the centre of the Estonian capital Tallinn was at the root of the diplomatic tension.

The barrage appeared to start in Russia but Moscow has denied any involvement.

Some Estonian websites were receiving as many asfive million requests a second at one point, compared to the usual1,000 to 1,500 clicks a day, prompting Estonia to wall off the country from outside internet access.