Russian governor assassinated near Kremlin

The governor of Russia's Far Eastern region of Magadan has been shot on a busy Moscow street.

Police say the assassination of Valentin Tsvetkov was a 'contract hit' carried out by a professional gunman.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered Prosecutor General Vladimir Ustinov and Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov to take personal control of the investigation.

Tsvetkov, 54, was fatally shot near the Magadan region's permanent Moscow office on Novy Arbat not far from the Kremlin during early morning rush hour, according to Moscow police.

"Clearly it was a contract hit, it was a job of a professional killer," said Moscow Police Chief Vladimir Pronin.

He added that police were investigating the case as premeditated murder connected to Tsvetkov's official position.

The unknown assailant fled after shooting the governor in the head in front of numerous bystanders, Moscow Prosecutor Mikhail Avdyukov said. Police found a pistol and cartridges nearby.

"We have a facial description of the suspect," Avdyukov was quoted as saying.

Russia has worked to dispel its gangland image, but politicians and powerful businessmen remain targets of contract killers. Police usually link most shootings to the victims' business and political interests.

Tsvetkov, 54, was elected to the Russian Federation Council in 1993 representing Magadan. In 1995, he entered the lower house of parliament, the State Duma. The following year, Tsvetkov was elected governor of Magadan. In November 2000, he won a second term.