COALMINERS BLOCK TRAN-SIBERIAN RAILWAY.

Two hundred Russian coalminers blocked the Trans-Siberian railway for eight hours yesterday. They were protesting the fact that they have not been paid their wages for between five and seven months. (RTR, December 22) Both freight and passenger transport were disrupted. This is the second time this year that miners have taken such action: in April, they blocked the tracks for 20 hours, causing the railway huge financial losses.

Chechen Gunmen Attack Russian Army Unit in Dagestan.