URGENT - three people missing in explosion in Krasnogorskaya mine.

MOSCOW, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- An explosion happened in the
Krasnogorskaya mine in the Kemerovo Region, three people are missing, the
Siberian regional branch of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations and
Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/ said on Saturday.


.Venezuela, Abkhazia, S Ossetia sign set of documents.

MEXICO, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez and
his counterparts from Abkhazia and South Ossetia - Sergei Bagapsh and
Eduard Kokoity - discussed major issues of bilateral relations. Over the
meeting, the leaders signed a set of documents on cooperation between the
two republics and Venezuela, a diplomatic source in Caracas said on
Saturday.
The presidents signed agreements on the establishment of diplomatic
relations and memorandums on mutual understanding, which describes a
mechanism of political consultations. The set of documents included
agreements on cooperation in the economy, trade, energy, agriculture and
other spheres.
The three presidents inked a joint statement, which expresses the firm
intention to strengthen "the tight connections of friendship and
cooperation in politics, the economy and culture."
On September 2009, Venezuela made a decision to establish full-fledged
diplomatic relations with Abkhazia and South Ossetia.


.Three people missing in explosion in Krasnogorskaya mine.
(Adds details)

MOSCOW, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- An explosion happened in the
Krasnogorskaya mine in Russia's Kemerovo Region, three people are missing,
the Siberian regional branch of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations
and Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/ said on Saturday.
"At 02:00 Moscow time, an explosion happened in the 7th drift of the
Krasnogorskaya mine in Prokopievsk, according to preliminary information,"
the source said.
There were 102 miners there as the explosion went off, the people are
being evacuated now.
"Three miners are missing," the source added.
Lifesavers and the EMERCOM team are working at the mine.


.Two miners with burns in explosion taken to hospital.
(Changes source, adds details)

MOSCOW, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- An explosion occurred in the
Krasnogorskaya mine in Russia's Kemerovo Region, two miners having burns
were taken to hospital, one is missing, head of press service of the
Siberian regional branch of Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations and
Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/ Olesya Kukuyeva said on Saturday.
"The explosion occurred in the 7th drift at 02:00 Moscow time," she
said. "There were 67 miners there. Presently, 52 of them are being
evacuated, one is still missing."


.Most miners evacuated after blast in Kemerovo Region.

(Changes source)
MOSCOW, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- Most miners were evacuated to the
surface after the explosion in the Krasnogorskaya mine in Russia's
Kemerovo Region, the press service of the Siberian regional branch of
Russia's Ministry of Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief /EMERCOM/
said on Saturday.
At 02:00 Moscow time, an explosion happened in the 7th drift of the
Krasnogorskaya mine in Prokopievsk. There were 67 miners there, two of
them got burnt. One miner is still missing.
"Most miners are brought to the surface, and 15 more get from the mine
themselves," the source added.
Six lifesavers groups and the EMERCOM team are working at the mine.


.G-8 summit should be kept - Berlusconi.

MILAN, July 24 (Itar-Tass) -- Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
is convinced it necessary to keep the format of G-8 summits as a platform
to establish "personal relations" among world leaders.
"With Dmitry Medvedev we have discussed the results of the last G-8
and G-20 summits," he said at a joint conference with Russia's President
Dmitry Medvedev. "We share the confidence that the G-8 format should be
kept."
"It is useful to have meetings of the leaders for a couple days to
establish trustworthy relations," Berlusconi said.

-0-kar