Russian president sacks city mayor

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, forcing him to declare on Monday that he would not quit – an option that the Kremlin had offered to him.

For years Mr Luzhkov has remained despite rumours that his days are numbered, with many attributing his sticking power to his ability to deliver the Moscow vote for Mr Putin's United Russia party, which he helped create. Firing him now gives the Kremlin time to appoint a successor who can also guarantee loyalty before the 2011 parliamentary elections and the 2012 presidential vote.

Mr Luzhkov, meanwhile, leaves a considerable legacy.

The former chemical engineering plant manager ran the city of 10 million with the aggressive vigour of a tough foreman. His efforts to exert absolute control went so far as announcing plans to seed snow clouds outside Moscow so they wouldn't dump snow on the city.

Under Mr Luzhkov's rule, Moscow underwent an astonishing makeover from a shabby and demoralised city into a swaggering and stylish metropolis. As the prices for Russia's oil and gas soared and foreign investment poured in, Russia's capital sprouted gigantic construction projects – malls, offices and soaring apartment towers.

Much of that work was done by the construction company headed by Mr Luzhkov's wife, Yelena Baturina, who is believed to be Russia's only woman dollar billionaire. Suspicions swirled consistently that corruption by Mr Luzhkov fed his wife's wealth.

Mr Luzhkov's star began falling sharply in July when an ill-conceived repair project on the main road to Moscow's international airport created delays that left drivers taking up to six hours to get there from the city.

He also appalled human rights groups by his frequent denunciation of gay rights activists.