S P O T L I G H T

20 Russians dead, claim Chechens
MOSCOW, May 22 (AFP) — Chechen fighters killed more than 20 Russian soldiers overnight when they seized a mountain-top village in southeastern Chechnya, a rebel official said today. Rebel forces stole into Zhani-Vedeno, destroying four armoured vehicles, Movladi Udugov told AFP by telephone from an undisclosed location. The Russian forces launched a counter-attack but it was repulsed by Chechen forces, he said.

Taj Mahal
AGRA, May 22 (PTI) — The Supreme Court has ordered that no vehicle should be parked within 500 metres of the boundary of Taj Mahal, to protect the monument from vehicular pollution. The recent order also asks for the demolition of 70 shops situated close to the western gate of the monument and their relocation.

Setback to talks
DUBAI, May 22 (UNI) — The peace talks between Israeli and Palestinian negotiators in Stockholm have into trouble in the wake of bloody clashes between the Israeli troops and stone-tossing Palestinians in occupied territories.