RAILROADS STRIKE BACK AT ARMED FORCES.

Russia’s already troubled armedforces endured yet another indignity on June 9, when the country’s RailwaysMinistry warned that it would temporarily suspend shipments of militarycargoes as of June 15, if the armed forces do not pay off their debts to therailroads. The suspension of shipments would apply not only to Russia’sregular armed forces, but also to the country’s various other “powerministries,” including the Interior Ministry and Border Guard forces. TheRailways Ministry said that the total debt of the power ministries to therailroads now stands at more than two billion rubles, of which more thanhalf has been carried over from 1997. The ministry said that the transportof strategic cargoes essential to the country’s defense would not beaffected by the shipment suspension. (Itar-Tass, June 9)

NATO MOVES CLOSER TO KOSOVO MILITARY ACTIONS.