Russian diplomat 'shoots dead' man who tried to rob him in Rio

A Russian diplomat has reportedly shot dead a man who tried to rob him in Rio on the eve of the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games.

The deadly incident happened just after the Olympic torch passed through the Avenida das Americas when the mugger, who was on a motorbike, hit the diplomat as he was sitting in his car, the Globo newspaper reported.

The official, named in reports as Marcos Cesar Feres Braga, is then said to have grabbed the robber's gun and shot him dead during a struggle.

An accomplice, who was reportedly also on a motorbike, fled the scene.

Some reports said the Russian diplomat is trained in jiu-jitsu.