Russia executes serial killer

Russia has executed the serial killer Andrei Chikatilo, convicted of mutilating and killing 52 women and children in three former Soviet republics during a 12-year rampage, Interfax news agency said yesterday, AP reports from Moscow.

Chikatilo, known as the 'Rostov Ripper', was shot on Monday in the prison of Novocherkassk in the southern region of Rostov-on-Don, the area where he committed most of his crimes. President Boris Yeltsin had rejected an appeal for clemency last week, the agency said.