Muscovites Wheeze As Smoke From Forest Fires Chokes Capital - AFP

[hatrack]

MOSCOW (AFP) - Smog from forest fires outside Moscow formed a thick, acrid cloud over the Russian capital Tuesday, obscuring famous landmarks and prompting health fears. A burning smell and irritation to the eyes and throat greeted commuters as smoke drifted in from fires southeast of the city, adding to the usual pollution from morning traffic jams.

Moscow's central television tower and the golden cupolas over churches in the Kremlin were partially veiled in smog, television footage showed, and city authorities recommended anyone with health problems to stay indoors. "In these conditions the most vulnerable are children and people suffering from chronic illnesses of the upper airways," Alexei Popov, from the Moscow Ecological Monitoring organisation, told Echo of Moscow radio. "Above all, they must limit outdoors physical exercises."

However, the smog was not expected to cause problems for aircraft taking part in an air show being attended by President Vladimir Putin, Interfax news agencies quoted local officials saying.

The smoke comes from a series of forest and peat fires raging outside Moscow over the last 10 days. More than a dozen were extinguished Monday just south-east of Moscow, but 12 others were still burning in the neighbouring Ryazan region and 18 in Vladimir region, a spokesman for the emergency situations ministry told AFP.

EDIT

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070821/sc_afp/russiaweatherfire_070821183218

[Captain Hilts]

1. The air there is terrible already. They have my full sympathy. That and no hot water. nt