Open trial ordered in journalist's death

MOSCOW, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- A Russian judge says the trial of suspects linked to the killing of journalist Anna Politkovskaya will be held in open court.

A judge in Moscow Monday denied prosecutors' request to close the trial to the public because classified military documents might be presented as evidence, RIA Novosti reported, noting defense lawyers and Politkovskaya's family had argued for an open trial.

Sergei Khadzhikurbanov, a former police officer, and two brothers, Dzhabrail and Ibragim Makhmudov, allegedly helped plan the October 2006 shooting of Politkovskaya, known internationally for her criticism of the Kremlin and reports of alleged military atrocities against civilians in Chechnya.

Rustam Makhmudov, the eldest of the Makhmudov brothers and the one alleged to have fired the gun, remains at large, RIA Novosti reported.