Diplomatic envoys stationed in Russia have asked Russian authorities to take steps to put an end to attacks by Russian neo-Nazis on foreigners. In early April, two black U.S. Marines protecting a visiting U.S. official and his wife were attacked by a group of skinheads on Starii Arbat, a popular shopping street in the center of Moscow. In March, the South African ambassador's wife was burned by a cigarette during an attack by skinheads and the next day a South African government delegation was attacked on Starii Arbat. In addition, many foreign embassies in the Russian capital recently received e-mail messages threatening to kill foreigners in Russia in celebration of Adolf Hitler's birthday on 20 April. (RFE/RL)