PICKERING TO REMAIN IN RUSSIA.

A U.S. State Department spokesman yesterday denied Russian media reports that U.S. ambassador to Russia Thomas Pickering would soon wrap up his assignment in Moscow. The spokesman said that Pickering would remain in Russia until at least the end of the year and that his future would be discussed only after the November presidential election. (Itar-Tass, September 11)

Lebed Pushes Coalition Government for Chechnya.