Russian Soccer Fans Riot in Central Moscow, One Reported Dead

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, June 10, 2002

Russian Soccer Fans Riot in Central Moscow, One Reported Dead

Russian soccer fans overturned cars and set them on fire in downtown Moscow on Sunday following their team's 1-0 loss to Japan in the World Cup finals.

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Russian soccer fans overturned cars and set them on fire in downtown Moscow on Sunday following their team's 1-0 loss to Japan in the World Cup finals.

A Moscow police in condition of anonymity confirmed earlier media reports that one person has been stabbed to death in the unrest.

But Interfax news agency quoted Moscow police chief Major General Vladimir Pronin as saying that there had been no documented confirmation of the death.

Xinhua correspondent on the spot said the unrest has been underentire control with the dismissing of mass groups. The OMON riot policemen with helmets and batons as well as traffic and patrol policemen are clearing the site.

Tens of thousands of fans watching the match on a huge television screen set up on Menezh square, next to the Kremlin, were seen overturning a minibus belonging to a state TV company and breaking windows of more 20 cars parked nearby.

Fans, most of them are teenagers, also set fire to at least seven cars parked nearby, smashing shop-windows on Moscow's main thoroughfares of Tverskaya and Okhotny Ryad, and attacking police and pedestrians. Windows of the building of the State Duma were also broken.

According to national Itar-tass news agency, except the one died of a knife stab, one policeman was also heavily stabbed and was rushed to hospital in gave condition.

More than 100 people were hurt and some 30 of them have been taken to the hospital. Some 50 vehicles were damaged.

Pronin said there were 8,000 fans involved, and Moscow police spokesman Sergei Shevtsov said about 60 people were detained.

Russia put itself in danger of elimination from the World Cup following Sunday's loss to Japan. It will now be looking for victory when it faces Belgium in its last match Friday.

Before the match, the Japanese embassy issued a statement advising Japanese nationals to stay at home and avoid crowds Sunday. The embassy is now under tighter security, Interfax said.

After the riot erupted, the firefighters arrived first, but suffered attacks in their truck. Photographers and cameramen were also beaten.

Sergei Tsoi, spokesman for Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, told Interfax that the city would stop showing the World Cup matches onbig outdoor screens following Sunday's disorder.

Deputy head of the government staff Alexei Volin warned of severe punishment to those responsible for the unrest.

The vandalism has nothing to do with sport or true soccer fans,he said, "it is in fact an insult to the millions of people who supported the Russian team."

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