ST. PETERSBURG OUT OF OLYMPIC RUNNING.

Russia’s second city has failed to make it onto the short-list of five cities bidding to host the 2004 Olympics. St. Petersburg’s case was passionately pleaded by President Yeltsin and Prime Minister Chernomyrdin, who dispatched First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Ilyushin to lobby the selection panel in Lausanne last week. Ilyushin blamed Russia’s unstable political situation, but the selection committee was also worried by the shortage of sports facilities in the city. (Itar-Tass, March 8)

Russia’s Maritime Territory Faces Colossal Cleanup.