President sacks Moscow mayor

Russia's president sacked the mayor of Moscow Yury Luzhkov yesterday, ending his 18-year reign.

President Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree relieving the 74-year-old mayor of his duties due to a “loss of confidence” in him.

With the long-awaited move, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and Medvedev sent a powerful signal that no regional leader is indispensable.

Speculation over the future of the mayor had grown in recent days.