BLAST IN DOWNTOWN DJOHAR KILLS FOUR.

Four people were killed when a remote-controlled bomb exploded yesterday evening in the center of Djohar, capital of Chechnya. The bomb appeared to be aimed against Chechnya’s Deputy Prosecutor General Magomed Magomadov, whose car was damaged though he himself was not hurt. Magomadov is leading the Chechen side of the search for President Boris Yeltsin’s envoy to Chechnya, Valentin Vlasov, who was kidnapped on May 1. Russian Interior Minister Sergei Stepashin said yesterday that federal and Chechen law enforcement agencies are cooperating closely in the hunt for Vlasov. Stepashin denied media reports that a ransom demand had been received for the envoy’s release. (Itar-Tass, May 13)

JEWISH CEMETERY DEFACED IN IRKUTSK.