Red Sq, adjacent areas shut off "due to repairs"
MOSCOW. July 18 (Interfax) - Police closed Red Square and neighboring areas in central Moscow to the public around 6 p.m. on Thursday "due to repairs," an Interfax correspondent reported from the scene.
At about 5:50 p.m. people strolling through Manezhnaya Square, which lies next to Red Square, started being told by police that Red Square was shut off "due to repairs."
A little later police began to order that Manezhnaya Square be vacated through loudspeakers, also "due to repairs," and meanwhile, barricades were put up barring access to Revolution Square from Manezhnaya Square.
Around 5:30 p.m. traders at Manezhnaya Square's numerous souvenir stalls began to pack their merchandise away, though normally trade there goes on until much later.
Exit from the Okhotny Ryad metro station to Manezhnaya Square was shut around 6 p.m., though people who remained on the square were able to leave it.
