In Russia President Vladimir Putin was re-elected by a landslide vote. But the U.S. and human rights groups criticized the election process for largely shutting out opposition candidates. Secretary of State Colin Powell said “a level of authoritarianism [is] creeping back” into Russian society. Some opposition groups had urged voters to boycott the elections. Minutes after the polls closed, a massive fire engulfed a historic 19th-century building near Red Square. Two firefighters died in the blaze.