MOSCOW: Russian President Boris Yeltsin fired Prime Minister Sergei Kiriyenko and the rest of his government on Sunday and said he was reappointing former prime minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.

Congman killed

HYDERABAD: Former Congress MLA S V Ramana Reddy was shot dead along with his gunman by unidentified assailants in the posh Jubilee Hills on Saturday night in what is believed as a fall-out of faction rivalry. Reddy, whose father and bother had also become victims of faction violence, was one of the suspects in the November 1997 car bomb blast near a film studio here that left 26 dead and caused injuries to TDP MLA P Ravi, film star and MP Mohanbabu.

Hooch toll now 33

CHENNAI: In one of the worst hooch tragedies in recent times, at least 33people, including seven women, died after consuming a killer brew near hosur in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu yesterday.

Nidal on deathbed

BEIRUT: Palestinian guerrilla chief Abu Nidal, wanted in theWest for scores of terrorist attacks, is dying of cancer in a private hospital in Cairo, an Arabic newspaper today quoted Palestinian sources as saying. Nidal is under care in a Cairo hospital.

Cyclone threat

VISAKHAPATNAM: The low pressure area over Bay of Bengal on Sunday lay over the west central bay off South Andhra coast. Under its influence, heavy rains are likely at many places over coastal Andhra Pradesh during the next 36 hours. Strong winds with a speed upto 45 to 50 kmph are also likely along the north coast during the next 24 hours.

Kesri stable

NEW DELHI: The condition of former Congress president Sitaram Kesri, who is undergoing treatment in a hospital here, was reported to be stable today. Kesri, was admitted to the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital, following complaints of chest pain.