UN chief alarmed by Thai tensions.

UNITED NATIONS, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- United Nations
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday voiced concern about the ongoing
political stand-off in Thailand, where several dozen people were killed
this month in clashes between anti-government protesters and police on the
streets of the capital, Bangkok.
"The Secretary-General is very concerned about the continuing
stand-off and tensions in Thailand, and the potential for this to
escalate," his spokesman Martin Nesirky told reporters at United Nations
Headquarters in New York.
At least three people died and scores more were injured in Bangkok on
Thursday after a series of explosions linked to the political tensions.
Mr. Ban "appeals to both the protesters and the Thai authorities to
avoid further violence and loss of life and to work to resolve the
situation peacefully, through dialogue. This is a moment requiring
restraint on all sides," Nesirky said.

.Two dead, thousands evacuated in south China floods.

BEIJING, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Two people were killed and close to
nine thousand had to be evacuated from the southern Chinese city of
Guilin, the Chinese central television reported on Friday.
It said torrential rain that fell from Monday to Thursday led to the
collapse of 1,275 homes in Guilin.
Shipping on the Lijiang River was halted after the water level rose
1.4 meters above the critical level, Xinhua news agency said.
It said the flood has caused an estimated economic loss of 10 million
US dollars.


.Doctors to check up children on Iturup Island.

VLADIVOSTOK, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- A group of children's doctors
from St. Petersburg and Khabarovsk will arrive to the Kuril Island of
Iturup on Friday for a medical check-up of a thousand children and
teenagers there.
The charity action in the framework of Russian Boundaries event is
organized by the Fund of St. Andrew the First Called, the Russian Railways
Company and the Sakhalin-based Hydrostroi construction company.
Doctors will check up the children in a new hospital recently built in
the city of Kurilsk, Hydrostroi Director General Yuri Svetlikov said.
An analytical review of the health of Iturup children will be compiled
and they will get medical assistance at the federal or regional level, if
necessary.
Svetlikov said the action will cover only Iturup this year, but other
Kuril Islands may follow later.

.Peugeot Citroen Mitsubishi to launch car assembly in Russia.

KALUGA, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- The alliance of Peugeot Citroen
Mitsubishi Automobiles Rus will launch on Friday Semi Knock-Down (SKD) car
assembly at an enterprise near Kaluga, 180 kilometers southwest of Moscow.
The administration of the regional governor told Tass the assembly
plant will produce Peugeot 308, Citroen C4, Citroen C-Crosser, Peugeot
4007 and Mitsubishi Outlander.
This year the alliance plans to sell 17-18 thousand Kaluga-assembled
cars in Russia, including four thousand Citroen C4 and 800 Citroen
C-Crosser.
The plant is to reach full production capacity in June 2012 and the
annual output will comprise 160 thousand cars. Total investment will
comprise 300 million euros.
Kaluga Governor Anatoly Artamonov said "car making is an industry that
accumulates most advanced technologies" and the start-up of the assembly
plant will increase investment attractiveness of the region.
The Kaluga administration said the new facility will create 2600
highly-paid jobs by 2012. At present it employs 350 people and the
workforce will increase to 1820 next year.

.Bikers to donate blood across Russia.

MOSCOW, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Bikers will stage a pan-Russian action
on Friday to donate blood that will cover numerous cities of the country,
the Health ministry said.
The Auto-Moto Donor action was for the first time held last year and
also involved motorists and traffic police. Over 1200 liters of blood were
donated and the Health ministry hopes for a similar volume this year.
Russia has 14 donors per a thousand of the population and the ministry
said the minimum required ratio is 25 per thousand.

.Two policemen sentenced for bribery in Siberia.

ULAN UDE, April 23 (Itar-Tass) -- Two police officers in TransBaikalia
were sentenced on Friday to 5.5 years in prison each for extorting a bribe
from a businesswoman.
Captain Vladimir Rosental and Senior Lieutenant Roman Yadrishchensky
who specialized in tax crimes were found guilty of office abuse and
extorting a bribe of 100 thousand rubles (3.5 thousand dollars).
Regional prosecutors said the two officers summoned in December 2008
the owner of a small retail network in the town of Khilok for questioning
on alleged tax dodging. They promised to close the case for a bribe and
said there would be no inspections in years to come.
The lady with a 17-year old business record complained to prosecutors.
-0-nec


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