Medvedev fires Moscow mayor

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has fired Yuri Luzhkov, the mayor of Moscow. Medvedev cited a loss of confidence in the mayor, who has held his position for 18 years. Luzhkov is perceived as belonging to the camp of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and Medvedev's bold decision to fire him shows that he is beefing up his own political power base. Deputy mayor Vladimir Resin will become acting mayor, but he is not expected to occupy the position for long. Read more: The Guardian