Serious Fire Breaks Out Near Red Square

MOSCOW (AP) -- A serious fire broke out Sunday night in an exhibition hall off Red Square, just minutes after polls closed in Russia's presidential election.

City fire officials said the blaze was ranked five, the most serious category.

The colonnaded 18th-century building known as the Manezh, an equestrian training hall, is a stone's throw from the Kremlin. It is used for frequent exhibitions and trade fairs and is considered one of Moscow's most precious historic monuments.

Emergency officials said they had no information on what caused the fire, which appeared to have started on the intricately designed roof.