The Third World is preparing to defend itself against the US The Gulf War, designed to bring “the light of freedom and democracy” to the region, not only dragged on, but also revealed its dangerous consequences. In Afghanistan this weekend, the Taliban, who seem to have been defeated by the Americans for a long time, made themselves known.

Iraqis destroy aggressors by any means Retired army sergeant Ali Jafar Al-Namani became the first volunteer suicide bomber of the Iraq War. On Saturday, he drove a taxi to a checkpoint near the city of Najaf, asked an American patrol to approach, citing some kind of breakdown, and then blew up the car. Four soldiers of the US 3rd Motorized Infantry Division were killed. The Iraqis claim that more people died in this action - 11 servicemen.

Israel and UK quarrel over Iraq Washington and London are looking for reasons for the coalition army's advance along the roads of the Iraq war to be less successful than expected. The Americans accuse Defense Secretary Rumsfeld of underestimating the combat capability of the Iraqi army. And British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said yesterday that Iraqis do not greet American and British soldiers as liberators because they unfairly transfer their hostility towards Israel to these countries.

The Russian State Duma listened to the president's proposals and has already prepared a draft resolution on an amnesty for Chechen militants. The reason was easily found: at the end of last week, the head of the Duma Committee on Legislation, Pavel Krasheninnikov, said that the resolution would be issued in connection with the adoption of the Chechen constitution . At the same time, a resolution will be adopted on the procedure for applying the amnesty.

At a meeting on Friday, the Board of Directors of RAO UES of Russia decided on the advisability of the energy holding's participation in a company specializing in providing services in the field of housing and communal services. As INTERFAX reports, two-thirds of the board of directors voted in favor. The RAO UES project involves the creation of an OJSC with an authorized capital of 1 billion rubles.

When is the time for banking mergers? Pavel MEDVEDEV, Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Credit Institutions and Financial Markets: -- The prerequisites for mergers have existed for a long time, but banks do not merge for various reasons. Sometimes it gets ridiculous: I tried to unite two of my former graduate students, but nothing worked - they could not agree on who would head the board of the bank.

High oil prices, which have been on world markets since the middle of last year, are putting Gazprom management in a complacent mood. This is evidenced by the company's net profit forecasts for this year, which were given at a board meeting at the end of last week. The concern's press release states that net profit is expected to be 145.7 billion rubles. ($4.6 billion). This is almost a billion dollars, or 26%, more than in 2002.

But he has the right to learn about you from your neighbors The Supreme Court of Russia allowed local police officers to collect any information about the residents under their care.

The head of the UN Commission on the Disarmament of Iraq leaves his post The head of the UN Commission on the Disarmament of Iraq (UNMOVIC), Swede Hans Blix, intends to leave his post upon expiration of his contract with the UN in June of this year. By the way, he will turn 75 in June. The decision of the head of inspectors did not come as a surprise.

Slobodan Milosevic's wife is asked to return from Moscow for questioning The Serbian investigative machine investigating the murder of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic has again turned to political murders of the beginning of the century. Members of Slobodan Milosevic's family appear as witnesses in these cases. Last weekend, the attention of the investigation was drawn to the wife of ex-President Milosevic, Mirjana Markovic, nicknamed the “Red Witch” by the Yugoslavs.

Americans are fighting worse than expected In almost two weeks of the war in Iraq, the forces of the Anglo-American coalition, in the opinion of the majority of members of the Russian college of military experts, demonstrated their inability to fight intelligently. Pampered American and British soldiers, even in ideal terrain for warfare, show helplessness and lack even a hint of fighting spirit. Realizing this, the coalition command relied on weapons and equipment.

March 28 3.10. The most powerful bombing of Baghdad in recent days. The US said communications and command and control centers in Baghdad were disabled during the airstrike. 9.50. US Marines hit a civilian bus near Nasiriyah, killing 12 Iraqis. 16.50. Coalition troops occupied the city of Al-Kifl in southwestern Iraq. 19.10. As a result of the bombing in Baghdad, the headquarters of the Baath Party was destroyed. According to eyewitnesses, 8 people died. 21.25.

Russians will work in Iraq. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia, former Minister of Fuel and Energy Viktor KALYUZHNY shared this confidence with the special correspondent of the Vremya Novostey newspaper Katerina LABETSKAYA. -- Is the Russian Foreign Ministry doing anything to reduce losses of Russian companies under contracts with Iraq? - Russia's main line is to return the issue to the UN Security Council.

Svyazinvest is preparing to consolidate the cellular NMT assets of its subsidiaries Svyazinvest has actively taken up the development of the cellular business of its subsidiaries. Deputy head of the holding Vadim Belov said that a program is now being prepared for the holding’s further participation in cellular NMT operators, the task of which is to concentrate these assets.

Having defeated one of his main competitors, Veselin Topalov, in the last round, Viswanathan Anand won the Amber Chess Tournament for the second time (the first in 1996). Thus, he refuted the opinion of Evgeniy Bareev that usually the winner is the one who manages to perform well in one of the categories, and not who plays equally well in both. Anand played above average: he came second in both categories, but scored a higher total of points - 14.5.