Russian lawyer shot dead

The head of the Russian federal chamber of notaries - the body which authenticates all contracts, has been shot dead as he was entering his home around midnight.

Anatoly Tikhnenko died instantly after he was hit five times by an unknown attacker, who left two pistols at the scene of the crime.

Police said it bore the hallmarks of a contract killing. Correspondents say contract killings have become a feature of Russia's unruly business culture.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service