Protesters were dug in last night at a government office in southern Russia, demanding the resignation of the region's president after gangland-style killings

Protesters were dug in last night at a government office in southern Russia, demanding the resignation of the region's president after gangland-style killings which have exposed the criminal network of clans which control the region's government and economy. Hundreds more protesters clamoured outside the government headquarters in Cherkessk, the capital of the north Caucasus republic of Karachayevo-Cherkessia, a day after 5,000 people rioted in the town, forcing the regional president, Mustafa Batdiyev, from his office. They were angered by the discovery of seven charred bodies in a mine shaft near a mountain village at the weekend. The man thought to be behind the murders, Ali Kaitov, is Mr Batdiyev's son-in-law. The standoff in the mainly Muslim republic, 200 miles from Chechnya, will heighten debate about the Russian president Vladimir Putin's plan to scrap local elections of regional presidents in favour of appointing officials himself. Mr Batdiyev was backed by the Kremlin in his 2003 election victory.