NEWS

Ingush president's cousin shot dead in possible vendetta killing

■ NAZRAN (RIA Novosti) - A cousin of Ingush President Murat Zyazikov, was shot dead in the republic's largest city on Wednesday, a source in the republic's Interior Ministry said.

Bekhan Zyazikov's Mercedes car came under gunfire in downtown Nazran at approximately 5.30 p.m. Moscow time.

"Zyazikov died of his injuries at the scene," the source said.

Relatives of opposition journalist Magomed Yevloyev, who was shot in a police car last month, recently an­nounced a vendetta against the Ingush president and his family.

Yevloyev, who ran the banned website Ingushetiya.ru, was shot in a police car on August 31 and died in hospital shortly afterwards. Police said it was an accident, a claim his supporters rejected. His opposition website had earlier called for protests against the local administration.

Flat owner attacks firefighters trying to put out blaze

■ MOSCOW (RIA Novosti) - A knife-wielding owner of a burning apartment in the north of Moscow tried to prevent firefighters, who arrived to put out the blaze, from entering his home, an Interior Ministry source said on Monday.

"The firefighters were greeted by the owner - knife in hand - who demanded they leave his home," he said.

The firemen called the police and put out the blaze, which, according to preliminary information, was started by the owner himself.

The man, who is believed to be suffering from a psychiatric illness, was taken to a police station, the source said. There were no casualties.

Ex-Georgian leader's son on hunger strike after arrest

■ TBILISI (RIA Novosti) - The son of Georgia's first post-Soviet president, Zviad Gamsakhurdia, has gone on hunger strike in protest at his arrest on suspicion of spying for Russia, his lawyer said on Tuesday.

Tsotne Gamsakhurdia was arrested at Tbilisi Airport on September 3 and remanded in custody for two months prior to trial. He has been charged with spying for Russia, an attempted coup and grievous bodily harm.

If found guilty of the charges, Gamsakhurdia could face up to 20 years in jail.

The allegations are based on audio and video recordings made during meetings between Gamsakhurdia and Russian diplomats, who were later expelled from Georgia. Gamsakhurdia claims the meetings were related to the transfer and subsequent reburial of his father's remains from the Russian Republic of Chechnya to Georgia last year.