RUSSIAN MISSILE CHIEF PRAISES START TREATIES.

Gen. Igor Sergeyev, commander-in-chief of Russia’s Strategic Rocket Forces (SRF), yesterday supported the START II strategic arms reduction treaty and called for the signing of the follow-on START III. He also expressed confidence that Russia could use "political methods" to keep NATO nuclear weapons out of eastern Europe. Sergeyev discounted the idea that Russia might withdraw from the ratified START-I treaty should NATO expand. (Interfax, April 23)

Chechen Commanders Ordered to Shoot Down Military Aircraft.