Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has topped Forbes magazine’s World’s Most Powerful People list in 2013.

Vladimir Putin has beaten President Barack Obama into second place on the list.

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

Barack Obama’s “lame duck period” had started earlier than usual while Vladimir Putin had consolidated his control of Russia, Forbes says.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ranked number five – one of only two women to feature in the top 20.

British PM David Cameron is 11th most powerful, in the magazine’s opinion – well ahead of his French counterpart but well behind American philanthropist Bill Gates.

It is the first time in three years that Barack 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.

Vladimir Putin, who has been dominating Russian politics for 12 years, was re-elected president in March 2012.

Vladimir Putin has topped Forbes magazine’s World’s Most Powerful People list in 2013

Barack Obama, on the other hand, has emerged bruised from a 16-day US government shutdown caused by a budget and debt crisis in Washington, Forbes says:

“Putin has solidified his control over Russia, while Obama’s lame duck period has seemingly set in earlier than usual for a two-term president – latest example: the government shutdown mess.”

Russia granted asylum in August to former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, who is wanted in the US over intelligence leaks.

A month later, Vladimir Putin “played the trump card again” by averting Barack Obama’s threatened missile strikes on Syria with a plan for Damascus to hand over chemical weapons, the magazine says.

“Anyone watching this year’s chess match over Syria and NSA leaks has a clear idea of the shifting individual power dynamics,” it adds.

Top 10 Most Powerful People – Forbes 2013

1. Vladimir Putin, Russian President

2. Barack Obama, US President

3. Xi Jinping, Chinese President

4. Pope Francis, Roman Catholic Church

5. Angela Merkel, German Chancellor

6. Bill Gates, co-chair, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

7. Ben Bernanke, Federal Reserve chairman

8. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud

9. Mario Draghi, European Central Bank president

10. Michael Duke, Wal-Mart CEO

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