Putin denies marriage rumours

0 Comments | AFP, April, 2008

PORTO ROTONDO, Italy (AFP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin denied Friday a newspaper report that he had divorced his wife Lyudmila and planned to marry a gymnastics champion.

And he hit out at "those with snotty-noses and erotic fantasies" who delved into the private life of public figures.

"There's not a word of truth in it," he told a press conference in Sardinia following talks with Italian prime minister-elect Silvio Berlusconi, when asked about reports of a relationship with a 24-year-old former Olympic gymnast, Alina Kabayeva, who is also a member of Russia's parliament.

Listening at the Russian leader's side as the question was translated, Berlusconi made a machine-gun firing gesture towards the Russian journalist who had asked it.

"You...