1.  Tbilisi was angered by a visit of the Russian defence minister, General Pavel Grachev, to Russian military bases in Abkhazia last month without informing the Georgian government.

2.  The Russian defence minister gave a more blunt assessment of the Soviet contribution to the war effort.

3.  The Swedes clearly dominated the game, keeping the Russian defence busy from the start with numerous breaks down the lines.

4.  General Igor Rodionov was appointed Russian defence minister Wednesday by presidential decree, the Kremlin said.

5.  General Igor Rodionov was appointed Russian defence minister Wednesday, the Kremlin said.

6.  General Igor Rodionov was retired from the army Wednesday on age grounds but remains Russian defence minister, according to a presidential decree.

7.  General Pavel Grachev on Thursday became the first Russian defence minister to make an official visit to Israel, flying in at the head of a military delegation.

8.  - agreeing limits to troop deployments within Europe to take account of Russian defence sensibilities.

9.  A Russian defence ministry spokesman said the air raids came after Chechen forces attacked Russian troops.

10.  A senior official at the Russian defence ministry told the Interfax agency Tuesday that in future Russian planes would use laser-guided missiles against secessionsist Chechen forces.