Russia's Northern Fleet Commander suspended from office

Gennady Suchkov, Commander of the Russian Northern Fleet, has been suspended from office, said Russian Navy Chief Commander Vladimir Kuroyedov.

When addressing a news conference in Moscow Thursday, the naval chief commander said that Vice-Admiral Sergei Simonenko had been appointed acting Commander of the Northern Fleet. He was in command of the operation to rescue the K-159 submarine.

The Kremlin press office has confirmed that President Vladimir Putin signed a decree suspending Vice-Admiral Suchkov from office on Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov's initiative.

Vice-Admiral Suchkov is expected to hand over his authority to the acting commander in the next few days. He will be suspended before the investigation into the K-159 incident is through, said Admiral Kuroyedov.

The K-159 sub sank in the early hours of Saturday, August 30, while being towed for disposal. Only one of the ten men on board survived.