Putin sacks Russian Def Min

The Russian President, Mr Vladimir Putin, has sacked his Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov. The move follows a fraud investigation into a company the Minister once chaired. He is alleged to have sold off military assets and real estate at a rock-bottom prices for personal profit. It is rare for President Putin to sack a government minister but Mr. Serdyukov has been under intense pressure.

Last month, investigators raided the offices of a company he once chaired, a state controlled military contractor, which is currently the subject of a fraud inquiry.

Mr. Serdyukov had been Defence Minister for nearly six years. In that time, he tried to reform Russia's outdated armed forces by cutting costs and military personnel and by boosting efficiency. President Putin has appointed one of his closest allies Sergei Shoigu as Russia's new Defence Minister.