Russia points at Canadian interference over Magnitsky case.

MOSCOW, December 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Russia has described Canadian
threats of sanctions against officials allegedly involved in the death of
lawyer Sergei Magnitsky as "interference into internal affairs of another
state."
"The resolution recently adopted by the human rights subcommittee of
the Canadian parliament which calls for financial and visa sanctions
against Russian officials allegedly related to the death of Sergei
Magnitsky can cause nothing but bewilderment," the foreign ministry said
in a statement on Thursday.
Hermitage Capital lawyer Magnitsky, 37, died in an investigation
prison where he was kept for nearly a year without trial.
His supporters said some sixty Russian officials, including
investigators and prosecutors linked to the death may be banned from
visiting Canada and face financial sanctions in the country. The United
States, Great Britain and Poland are considering similar bills, they said.
The foreign ministry recalled that Russian authorities are thoroughly
investigating Magnitsky's death which it called "a major human tragedy."
"It is unclear on which grounds Canadian parliamentarians claim that
Russian authorities take insufficient measures to expose the truth and
moreover 'appoint' those guilty and determine 'punishment' for them," the
ministry said.
It reminded to Canadian legislators that only a court can find anyone
guilty of a crime and said there have been no court verdicts so far.
"Therefore, the actions of Canadian legislators are nothing but
attempts to exert pressure on investigators and interfere into internal
affairs of another state," the ministry said.
Such actions "will definitely add no positive impact to bilateral
relations and contacts between parliamentarians that enjoyed a boost
during Canadian G8 and G20 presidency in the outgoing year," the ministry
said.


.Over 200 Muscovites evacuated because of gas leak.

MOSCOW, December 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Over 200 tenants were evacuated
late on Thursday in northeastern Moscow following an accident on a gas
pipeline, police said.
A middle-pressure gas pipeline broke and leaked near a 5-story
residential house and an 8-story administrative building, but luckily
there was no fire or explosion.
"At present gas supplies through the broken section of the pipeline
have been stopped, there was no fire," police said adding 70 people were
evacuated from the administrative building and 90 percent of tenants from
the residential house. "The rest refused to leave their apartments,"
police said.
Repair work is underway on the pipeline.

.Protesters attack Prince Charles' car.

LONDON, December 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Protesters demonstrating against
higher student fees in London attacked the car carrying Prince Charles,
the heir to the British throne, and his wife Camilla, a spokesman for the
prince said on Thursday.
"We can confirm that Their Royal Highnesses' car was attacked by
protesters on the way to their engagement at the London Palladium this
evening, but Their Royal Highnesses are unharmed," the spokesman said.
The car later arrived safely at the venue where the royals were to
watch a variety performance.
Television footage showed the Bentley limousine splattered with white
paint with damage to one of its rear passenger-side windows.
Police said the car was attacked around Oxford Circus in the heart of
London.

.Yanukovich reshuffles Ukrainian government.

KIEV, December 10 (Itar-Tass) -- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich
reshuffled his government late on Thursday following his pledge to
considerably decrease the number of government and other officials.
Yanukovich created and reorganized ten ministries and appointed Andrei
Klyuev as first deputy prime minister and economic development and trade
minister.
Sergei Tigipko was appointed deputy prime minister and social policy
minister, Viktor Tikhonov - deputy prime minister and minister for
regional development, construction and communal utilities, Boris
Kolesnikov - deputy prime minister and infrastructure minister.
Yuri Boiko headed the energy and coal industry ministry, Dmitry
Tabachnik - science, education, youth and sport ministry, Nikolai
Zlochevsky - ecology and natural resources ministry, Nikolai Prisyazhnyuk
- agriculture ministry, Viktor Baloga - emergency ministry, and Mikhail
Kulinyak - culture ministry.
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