Russian c bank works on despite assassination-head

MOSCOW, Sep 15 (Reuters) Russia's central bank is continuing to work normally despite the murder of its first deputy chairman, Andrei Kozlov, chairman Sergei Ignatyev told President Vladimir Putin today.

''Despite this tragedy the central bank continues to work as normal, fulfilling all the tasks set before it,'' Ignatyev told Putin at the president's summer residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, Interfax news agency reported.

Interfax quoted Putin expressing his ''sincere condolences'', but making no further comment on Kozlov's shooting by unknown gunmen on Wednesday night.

Kozlov, Russia's chief banking supervisor, died of his wounds early yesterday. He is the highest-ranking Russian official to be assassinated during Putin's six years in office.

REUTERS AB KN1837