MOSCOW, March 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A serious fire broke out Sunday night in an exhibition hall near Moscow's Kremlin when polls closed in Russia's presidential election several minutes later.

    Itar-Tass news agency said that two firemen have been killed when the burning building's roof collapsed.

    City fire officials said the blaze was ranked five, the most serious category. The fire has spread onto the doors of a nearby underground supermarket.

    Short circuit is possible reason for the fire in the Manezh central exhibition hall, local media quoted sources with the Emergency Situations Ministry as saying.

    The Manezh building was opened in November 1817 on the occasionof the fifth anniversary of victory over the Napoleon army.

    The Moscow prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation into the fire. Enditem