Fire out at Moscow landmark tower

The Ostankino tower is a famous Moscow landmark

A fire at the Ostankino television tower in Moscow has been extinguished, Russian officials said.

Firefighters were sent to the landmark building after sparks from welding work on a balcony set fire to insulation, officials say.

The 540m building (1,772 feet) is one of Europe's tallest structures.

A fire badly damaged the tower in August 2000, killing three people and leaving the Russian capital without TV broadcasts for several days.

The fire was confined to the balcony and was put out with a fire extinguisher, an emergencies ministry spokesman said.

Russian news reports said staff were evacuated from the building.

The rocket-shaped building is a major Moscow landmark, reaching about twice as high as the Eiffel Tower in Paris.