A MOSCOW court sentenced a police precinct chief to life in prison for a drunken shooting spree that killed two people and wounded seven.

Russian MPs are to consider an electoral amendment next week that could open the way for President Vladimir Putin to run for a third term, prompting opposition MPs to accuse Kremlin supporters of trying to cling to power.

Former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Kravchenko shot himself today, hours before prosecutors were to question him about the killing of an investigative journalist five years ago.