DELEGATION OF NORTH OSSETIANS SEIZED IN CHECHNYA.

The welcome news that Raduev had released unharmed his 22 hostages was counterbalanced by fears for the safety of a delegation of high-ranking North Ossetian officials who were taken captive in northern Chechnya yesterday. The delegation included Schmidt Dzoblaev, the general secretary of the Assembly of National-Democratic and Patriotic Forces of Russia, Georgi Dzhigkaev, an adviser to the president of North Ossetia, and Soslan Sikoev, the deputy minister of internal affairs and a deputy to the republic parliament. A ransom of $6 million is said to have been demanded for their release. (RTR, Interfax, Vesti, December 18) North Ossetian president Akhsarbek Galazov has appealed to Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and Security Council secretary Ivan Rybkin to take all necessary measures to ascertain the delegation’s whereabouts. (Interfax, December 18)

Rodionov Delivers a Stern Message to NATO.