News In Brief

Mongolian ruler's retirement may be a hint to Chernenko

Foreign diplomats say the replacement of Mongolian leader Yumjagin Tsedenbal may have been instigated by officials in the Soviet Union, possibly to send a message to Soviet President Kontantin Chernenko. They doubted the official explanations that Tsedenbal was replaced Aug. 23 because of his health. One theory is that Tsedenbal was pushed out as a way of demonstrating to Chernenko - who has not been seen in public since mid-July and is rumored to be ill - that it's time to go.