Vladimir Putin puts the broom through military

[dArKeR]

NY TIMES NEWS SERVICE , MOSCOW

Moving to quell a feud for control of the Russian military and simultaneously reacting to a stinging military setback last month near Chechnya, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday dismissed four senior military and security officers.

Putin has rarely wanted for the dramatic gesture, and the dismissals demonstrated that point once more. General Anatoly Kvashnin, the chief of Russia's general staff, topped the list of those dismissed.

Putin offered the departing general a lesser post and a medal for faithful service. Russian news organizations reported that the veteran officer had refused the new job and would retire.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2004/07/21/2003179812