Resignation rejected

The Russian government yesterday rejected a letter of resignation from the Foreign Trade Minister, Sergei Glazyev, a young reformer who took offence at accusations of corruption in his ministry, Helen Womack reports from Moscow. Interfax news agency said the cabinet had decided after a four-hour meeting to express continuing confidence in Mr Glazyev.

Mr Glazyev said the Russian mafia was angry about new rules he had brought in to regulate the export of raw materials, such as oil and timber. The liberal Russian press portrayed Mr Glazyev as a victim and urged the Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin, not to accept his resignation.