Russia politicians seek Zhirinovsky ban after debate brawl

Outraged politicians vying for seats in Russia's Parliament have called for nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky to be disqualified from television debates after his live appearance degenerated into a fist-fight.

Passions boiled over after a Saturday talk show in what, until now, has been a lacklustre campaign for the election, viewed as a pointer for President Vladimir Putin's national standing ahead of his expected bid next year for a second term.

After launching a particularly virulent attack on one rival, Zhirinovsky promised to give him a pasting after the show.

Footage of the incident, broadcast later, showed men in suits scuffling and occasionally landing punches as they left the set.