Tabloid shut after Putin faux pas

A Moscow newspaper that reported Vladimir Putin had divorced his wife and planned to marry an Olympic gymnast was closed by its publishers, just hours after the Russian president angrily denied the report.

Moskovsky Korrespondent said last week that Putin had secretly divorced his 50-year-old wife, Lyudmila, and would wed Alina Kabayeva, a 24-year-old Olympic gold medalist in rhythmic gymnastics, in the summer.

The 55-year-old Kremlin leader reacted furiously when asked about the report at a news briefing in Sardinia, with the Italian prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi.