INTERIOR MINISTRY DENIES ALERTING TROOPS.

Russia’s Interior Ministry yesterday denied media reports that its troops had been placed on high alert in connection with Russia’s financial crisis. Troops are on high alert only in Dagestan, the Ministry said, “in light of the recent events there.” (Itar-Tass, September 7) Eighteen people were killed and seventy injured in Dagestan when a car bomb exploded in a residential district of the capital, Makhachkala, on September 4. (Itar-Tass, September 6) Former Deputy Prime Minister Ramazan Abdulatipov has called on President Yeltsin to respond to this and other recent terrorist incidents by introducing direct presidential rule in the North Caucasus republic.

EUROPEAN UNION MULLS RUSSIA CRISIS.