RUSSIA: START II NUCLEAR ARMS TREATY REJECTED BY STATE DUMA

Russian/Nat The State Duma, the lawmaking house of the Russian parliament, on Monday approved Russia’s union with neighbouring Belarus and an amnesty for Chechen rebels, but refused even to consider the START II nuclear arms treaty. Speaking after the vote, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the amnesty act was aimed at convincing Chechen rebels to lay down arms. Putin criticised the Duma for not backing START II, but added the government would try to put the issue on the Duma agenda once again.