31 Oct 2013

Putin world's most powerful person, says Forbes

9:51 am on 31 October 2013

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been named the world's most powerful person by Forbes magazine.

He has beaten United States President Barack Obama into second place on the magazine's 2013 list.

Pope Francis features at number four after Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to Forbes, Mr Obama's "lame duck period" had started earlier than usual while Mr Putin had consolidated his control of Russia.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ranked number five - one of only two women to feature in the top 20, the BBC reports.

British prime minister David Cameron is 11th most powerful, in the magazine's opinion.

It is the first time in three years that Mr Obama has dropped to second place on the Forbes list.

It comes as relations between the US and Russia have been hit by the civil war in Syria.