RUSSIA DENIES BUYING ESCAPE FROM AFGHANISTAN.

Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service yesterday denied media reports that one of its field agents had cleared the way for the August 16 escape from Afghanistan of Russian hostages by surreptitiously passing some $3 million to the Taliban rebels holding them. A spokesman said that the agency had played no role in the escape. (Interfax, August 29)

Germany Supports Balts on NATO, EU.