Police in the Russian far-eastern city of Vladivostok have evicted supporters of the former city mayor, Viktor Cherepkov, from his office where they had barricaded themselves for more than two weeks.

No casualties were reported.

Mr Cherepkov is in Moscow, lobbying the Supreme Court to overturn the presidential decree sacking him following allegations of corruption.

The regional governor Yevgeni Nazdratenko appointed a former deputy, Yury Kopylov, as acting mayor.

This is the second time supporters of Mr Cherepkov have been forcibly removed in a power struggle that goes back five years.