A Russian MP has walked out of the Duma, the lower house of parliament, in protest at the failure of the authorities to censure a Communist member, Albert Makashov, for anti-Semitic remarks.

The popular singer turned politician, Iosif Kobzon, said he could no longer stay in one room with Makashov and his supporters.

Mr Kobzon said he was dissatisfied that despite a demand by several deputies no investigation had been started against Makashov.

Meanwhile the Communist-dominated Duma has voted in favour of restoring a monument to Felix Dzherzhinsky, the founder of the Soviet secret police, because of what one deputy the leader of the Communist-allied Agrarian Party, Nikolai Kharitonovsaid was his strong stand on crime and corruption.