pardoned

and released after serving 16 months in jail. Mr Sannikov had been sentenced for five years for organising mass protests during the 2010 presidential election.

The Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has cancelled his attendance at the Summit of the Americas underway in Colombia, citing health reasons. The Venezuelan foreign minister said Mr Chavez would instead travel to Cuba for a third round of

radiotherapy

later on Saturday.

Mr Chavez had surgery in February to remove a

malignant

tumour from his pelvic region. On Friday, Mr Chavez told his supporters that he was doing well but that the radiotherapy was, as he put it, having an impact.

The Italian football federation has

called off

all league games this weekend following the death of a player. A midfielder for Livorno collapsed during a match. Alan Johnston is in Rome.

Piermario Morosini's last moments came in a very public setting. His side was winning a televised match against Pescara. Then after about half an hour, the midfielder suddenly collapsed. The cameras showed him try to stagger to his feet at least twice, then fall for the last time.

Other players quickly realised that something was terribly wrong, and medical staff

frantically

tried to revive the player on the grass. He was sped away to hospital in an ambulance, but it was announced that he had died of a heart attack.

One of the major events in the British horse racing calendar, the Grand National, has been won by Neptune Collonges ridden by Daryl Jacob.