* Boris Gryzlov, the leader of the pro-presidential United Russia party, said his party should take a clear position on Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization
* Vladimir Grodetsky, CEO of the Izhmash concern, said Russia accounted for only 10-12% of about 1 million Kalashnikov assault rifles that are sold on the world market every year
* Russian Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said the country's Armed Forces could counter any modern threats, but there would be no large-scale war in the foreseeable future
* The Russian federal penitentiary service said it had launched an inquiry into an alleged assault on jailed tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky
* Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said the process of the formation of a democratic coalition in the country's parliament was proceeding normally
