DHAKA: Russia says it has flown 11,000 tourists home from Egypt in the past 24 hours, and more will return on Sunday.

Moscow announced on Friday that it was suspending all flights to Egypt after a Russian plane crashed in Sinai - having initially dismissed suspicions that a bomb brought down the jet, reports the BBC.

Dozens of special flights were put on for tourists wanting to go home.

A remembrance service has been held in St Petersburg for the crash's 224 victims, most of whom were Russian.

The main bell of the northern city's St Isaac's Cathedral tolled 224 times - once for each of the victims.

Meanwhile, another Russian plane with the victims' remains - the fourth since the crash on 31 October - landed at St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport, as the identification process continues.

The UK has flown 3,500 travellers out of Sharm el-Sheikh, from where Metrojet Flight 9268 took off for St Petersburg on 31 October.

The UK halted flights to and from the resort on Wednesday, citing intelligence concerns that the Airbus may have been downed by a bomb.

BDST: 0832 HRS, NOV 09, 2015
RS