10 held over Russian journalist's 'murder'

Ten people have been arrested over the killing of investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya and will be charged soon, Russian news agencies quoted the chief prosecutor as saying today.

“We have made serious progress in this case,” RIA-Novosti and ITAR-Tass quoted Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika as telling President Vladimir Putin.

“As of today, 10 people have been arrested, and literally in the nearest future they will be charged with the commission of this grave crime.”

Ms Politkovskaya, a critic of Mr Putin who exposed human rights abuses in Chechnya, was shot dead at her Moscow apartment building in October.

Her killing drew international attention, compounding concern about the safety of journalists and Kremlin critics in Russia.