KAZAKH COAL MINERS STAGE WARNING STRIKES.

After Almatyannounced that it was planning to close down a number of inefficientcoal mines in Kazakhstan, the predominantly ethnic Russian minersstaged small demonstration strikes at several of the mines targetedfor closure, Interfax reported July 18. Fewer than 1300 minerswere involved, and local officials played down the demonstrations,saying that only miners who had the day off had taken part.