Russian minister shot dead

MAKHACHKALA - The interior minister of the southern Russian republic of Daghestan was shot dead Friday afternoon at a wedding reception here.

“Daghestani Interior Minister Adilgerei Magomedtagirov died of gunshot wounds on the way to the hospital,” an interior ministry spokesman said.

A police source said the minister was shot by a sniper from the rooftop of a neighbouring building when he and several other high-level officials walked out of a restaurant at around 1.00 p.m.

Five other interior ministry officials and the father of the bride, who received injuries in the attack, were hospitalised. Magomedtagirov had been the interior minister since 1998.

–RIA Novosti