News briefs
March 25, 1996
Web posted at: 8:30 p.m. EST (0130 GMT)Yeltsin promises more reforms
OSLO, Norway (CNN) -- Russian President Boris Yeltsin spoke to business leaders in Norway Monday, deriding his Communist challenger in upcoming Russian elections.
Yeltsin's 30-hour trip to Norway was formally meant to discuss bilateral issues, but he also appeared to be signaling to the world that he is strong, reform-minded and still in control less than three months before the June elections.
Yeltsin and his wife Naina toured Oslo landmarks with the Norwegian king and queen, and urged Norway to reject NATO's consideration of membership for three former Soviet bloc countries.
While Yeltsin spoke, over 1,000 Norwegians gathered in protest of Russia's arrest of environmental activist Alexander Nikitin. Nikitin has been accused of giving away state secrets about nuclear waste.
City officials to be charged in Philippine disco fire
MANILA, Philippines (CNN) -- Six city officials and five owners of a discoteque that burned last week face criminal charges for negligence. The fire killed 157 people.
Prosecutor Ferdinand Abesamis said the Quezon City engineer, chief electrical inspector, fire marshal and three other city officials -- as well as the Ozone Disco Pub owners -- would be charged Tuesday with criminal negligence resulting in death, in potential homicide, and in serious physical injury.
The death toll rose to 157 Monday when another badly burned victim died. Doctors said many more of the several dozen victims still in critical condition may not survive.
The fire was started by an overloaded electrical system in the disc jockey's booth. It swept through foam sound insulation, killing nearly half the 350 people, mostly teen-agers, present. The club had no usable fire exit and was licensed to hold only 35 customers.
- Parents mourn children's deaths after fire
- Families identify loved ones after fire
- Death toll rises to about 150 in Manila disco fire
Yeltsin downplays Russia-Belarus union
MOSCOW (CNN) -- Backing away from leaders in Minsk, Russian President Boris Yeltsin on Monday said there was little chance of merging Belarus with Russia.
Yeltsin's remarks contradicted those of Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, who said over the weekend that he would reunite Belarus with Russia.
Russian leaders played down the significance of a treaty to be signed on April 2 calling for economic cooperation between the two countries.
Russians liken the agreement with Belarus and with others in the Commonwealth of Independent States to that of members of the European Union. Yeltsin's spokesman, Sergei Medvedev, said political union is still a distant prospect.
Many analysts believe recent announcements on integration with former Soviet neighbors are aimed partly at millions of voters nostalgic for the days of superpower glory. Russia's presidential election is June 16.
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