Russia demands official's sacking

Moscow: Russia demanded disciplinary action against the head of the United Nations mission in Kosovo on Thursday for preparing to hand over powers to a European Union mission that Moscow says is illegal.

Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement posted on its website www.mid.ru, it was "seriously concerned" by reports that Joachim Ruecker, the German head of the United Nations Mission in Kosovo, was taking steps to close the mission. "What we are talking about is scandalous obstinacy which should be decisively stopped... We proceed from the assumption that disciplinary measures, up to his dismissal, will be taken with regard to J. Ruecker."