Putin demands urgent revamp of immigration rules

MOSCOW, Oct 25 (Reuters) Russia's President Vladimir Putin said today he wanted ministers urgently to ''bring order'' to immigration and employment legislation to prevent outbreaks of racial tension.

''We have to bring order on the issues of food markets, of migration and labour ... with the aim of providing jobs first of all for citizens of the Russian Federation,'' Putin told a televised question and answer session.

He was answering a question from the northern Russian town of Kondopoga, where local people rioted earlier this year, complaining that immigrants monopolised the town's markets.

REUTERS BDP BS1445