DUMA LEADER BACKS DEFENSE MINISTER.

The chairman of the Russian Duma’s Defense Committee, retired Gen. Lev Rokhlin, told reporters on February 28 that he backs embattled Russian defense minister Igor Rodionov and agrees with Rodionov that the armed forces should get increased funding. Rokhlin also suggested that President Boris Yeltsin has been misinformed about the real situation in the army. (Interfax, February 28) Rodionov has accused his rival, Defense Council secretary Yuri Baturin, of misleading Yeltsin and the Russian public on precisely that issue.

Beijing Wants Border Demarcation Completed.