Top Russian prosecutor resigns

A leading Russian prosecutor who has been investigating several high-profile corruption cases has abruptly resigned.

The prosecutor, Nikolai Volkov, told a local newspaper he'd made his decision because of political pressure.

Mr Volkov has alleged that hundreds of millions of dollars had been embezzled from the national airline, Aeroflot through Swiss companies.

Aeroflot officials have denied wrongdoing.

He'd also made allegations against Kremlin property officials.

A spokesman for the Prosecutor General's Office, Leonid Troshin however, said merely that Mr Volkov had wanted early retirement and the request had been granted.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service