LATVIAN DEFENSE MINISTER DISMISSED.

Prime Minister Andris Skele has dismissed Defense Minister Andrejs Krastins and forced the resignation of the state secretary for defense, Einars Vaivods. They are accused of having approved a fuel supply deal for the Latvian military which benefited a private company but defrauded the state. The charges are being disputed by the officials and questioned by the press. Krastins’ National Conservative Party-Farmers’ Bloc is entitled to nominate the defense minister under the agreement among the governing coalition’s parties. (BNS, May 12)

Turkish President Takes Stock of Investments in Turkmenistan.