LEBED PREFERS FRANCE TO SWITZERLAND.

Contrary to his earlier assertion, Aleksandr Lebed is not going to the World Economic Forum that opens in Davos today. Instead, Russia’s former security supremo is to visit France. In Lebed’s absence, the focus of attention in Davos seems likely to fall on Nikolai Kovalev, the director of Russia’s Federal Security Service (domestic successor to the KGB). He will take part in deliberations on countering cross-border crime, drug-trafficking, and international terrorism. Also present in Davos are Russian prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin and Kazakhstani president Nursultan Nazarbaev. (Interfax, January 29)

Yeltsin Rebuffs Duma on Iraq.