Russian soldier kills three colleagues

A Russian soldier has shot dead three colleagues and wounded another before killing himself.

Russia's Defence Ministry said the private ran away from his guard post and opened fire at other soldiers when they tried to detain him, killing three, in the far east of the country.

A fourth was taken to hospital with serious wounds after the incident.

A statement on the ministry's website said: "After the murders, serviceman V A Denis shot himself with his machinegun."

A report in May said that more than 300 Russian soldiers committed suicide last year.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.