LEBED WILL RETIRE IF…

Gen. Aleksandr Lebed, the controversial commander ofthe 14th Russian Army in Moldova’s Transdniestr region, said May 22 that heis willing to retire if Moscow will assure protection for his men and theirmassive stores of equipment, Moscow radio reported. Although the 14th Armynow numbers only 4,000 men, there are more than 500,000 pieces of weaponryand ammunition in their care. Many Duma members have expressed fears thatthese weapons could fall into the wrong hands if Lebed were to beprecipitously removed. Lebed will meet with Duma members later this week forparliamentary hearings on the 14th Army.

Russian Central Bank Won’t Cut Reserve Levels.