MOSCOW, July 9 (Xinhuanet) -- The editor-in-chief of Forbes Magazine's Russian edition Pavel Klebnikov was shot to death late Friday near his Moscow office, Russian news agencies reported.

    Itar-Tass said that the incident occurred about 22:00 Moscow time (1800 GMT) near Klebnikov's Moscow office.

    However, Interfax quoted police as saying that the incident took place about 20:00 Moscow time when Klebnikov, US-born of Russian heritage, left his office.

    The victim suffered four pistol shot and died in a rescue-squadvehicle, according to Interfax.

    The police said that they had found at the scene shells of two different caliber, indicating at least two assailants.

    The police said that the killing was linked with Klebnikov's professional activities.

    Khlebnikov is the author of a book called "Godfather of the Kremlin" about Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky, who is now living in self-exile in Britain

    Khlebnikov worked as the magazine's senior editor in New York for many years and became head of its Russian edition only this year.

    His colleagues declined to comment on the accident, saying thatthe Forbes management was preparing a special statement, Itar-Tasssaid. Enditem