Vladimir Putin backs Russian ban on US adoptions

Russian President Vladimir Putin has defended a proposed ban on Americans adopting Russian children.

At a live televised news conference Mr Putin said the bill, backed by Russian MPs on Wednesday, was "appropriate".

The Russian bill is a response to the US Magnitsky Act, which bars entry to the US for Russians accused of human rights violations.

The BBC's Oleg Boldyrev says commentators in Russia have called this a 'barbaric retaliation'.