Russians looking for answers after riot kills two

MOSCOW -- Police and politicians in Russia looked to place blame Monday for riots that broke out during a broadcast of a World Cup match, leaving two dead, scores injured, and cars and shop windows damaged throughout much of Moscow's center.

World Cup violence was also reported in southeastern China, where thousands of irate fans in Fuzhou overturned police cars and a bus and tore down street signs after a public television screen was switched off minutes before the China-Brazil game began Saturday night. Brazil won 4-0.

In Moscow, thousands of young men, many of them drunk, rioted Sunday during Russia's 1-0 loss to Japan, setting cars on fire and fighting police. Russian media said one of the victims was a police officer who died from knife wounds.

Many Russians criticized the Moscow police for failing to ensure security during the match, which was broadcast live on a large screen across from the Kremlin.

For their part, top police officials said the Moscow city government shared some of the blame for poorly organizing the broadcast of the Russia-Japan match.

Moscow police chief Vladimir Pronin submitted his resignation, but Interior Minister Boris Gryzlov did not accept it. However, Gryzlov said he would accept the resignation of Pronin's deputy, Vasily Chemisov, according to the Interfax news agency. Chemisov was the top police official on duty Sunday, the agency said.

Investigation ordered

Gryzlov ordered an internal investigation into why police were not able to control the violence, said ministry spokeswoman Yelena Vorobyova.

Police criticized city authorities for allowing an ad to be shown on the big screen depicting a person destroying an expensive car with a baseball bat. Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov defended his administration and said he did not think the city should dismantle the big outdoor screens that had been set up to show Russia's World Cup matches. Luzhkov's spokesman, Sergei Tsoi, had said earlier that the screens would be removed.