Lada races Kremlin limo

Vladimir Putin's limo was overtaken by the Lada

Russian President Vladimir Putin's bodyguards are prepared for most eventualities - but preventing their charge being chased by a Lada stretched even their skills.

Vladimir Putin was heading home from the Kremlin

Mr Putin's convoy was heading away from the Kremlin, down one of Moscow's main highways, when a Lada appeared behind it.

As in the Soviet era, police block off all traffic so as to clear the way for the presidential limousine and accompanying guards.

But, undeterred, the driver of the Lada started chasing Mr Putin's limo as it cut a swathe through the Moscow evening traffic.

Suddenly he overtook the convoy, which was travelling at more than 100 km/h (60mph), and tried to get close to the president's vehicle.

We noticed a car lying upside down - a huge Mercedes jeep

Witness

Bodyguards in a Mercedes 4X4 swerved into the path of the Lada and brought it to a halt, but not before the Mercedes crashed.

One witness told Russian TV after the incident on Monday: "We got out of our car to see what happened and noticed a car lying upside down - a huge Mercedes jeep."

A second witness said that he saw two men from the Lada lying on the ground at gun-point.

The pair, aged 30 and 32, underwent blood alcohol tests, but the results have not been revealed.

They were later charged with "violence towards a state official".

Several bodyguards are now nursing bruised bodies, and their dented pride.

It was revealed on Tuesday that Ukrainian agents had foiled a plot to assassinate Mr Putin during an August summit in Yalta of former Soviet states.