UKRAINE WANTS AID NOW TO MEET CHERNOBYL PLEDGE.

Ukraine’s Environment and Nuclear Safety Minister Yuri Kostenko said yesterday that the G-7 nuclear safety summit has created confidence that Ukraine will receive the promised aid for closing the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. However, Kostenko stressed that the aid must begin arriving very soon if Ukraine is to meet the stipulated 2000 deadline for the closure. (AP, April 23)

Fire Near Chernobyl Extinguished.