SIRADEGHIAN DEPARTS.

Armenian Pan-National Movement (APNM) chairman Vano Siradeghian, whom many considered the most influential figure in that regime until 1998, left Armenia for the Middle East on January 29, purportedly for medical reasons. Only three days before departing, Siradeghian had been at his flamboyant best defending himself in parliament against the prosecutor general’s request to have Siradeghian deprived of parliamentary immunity and arrested on criminal charges, including murder. The parliament narrowly turned down the request (see the Monitor, January 27). The next day the prosecutor general announced that he would resubmit the request and cite additional charges. Hints were made that Siradeghian’s life might be in danger. Upon his departure, APNM colleagues offered assurances that he would return before long (Noyan-Tapan, January 29, 30).

BALANCE SHEET OF FIGHTING IN LENINABAD.