News In Brief

Ogarkov truly demoted, Western observers say

The transfer of former Soviet chief of staff Nikolai Ogarkov to head a military command in the western Soviet Union confirms that he has been demoted and has probably lost most of his influence, Western military experts said on Monday.

They said Marshal Ogarkov's appearance in East Berlin Friday, and comments on his new role by Politburo member Grigory Romanov on Sunday in Finland, provided firm evidence to back previous reports from Soviet sources that he was now in charge of the western theater in case of war. Ogarkov was replaced by Marshal Sergei Akhromeyev as chief of staff Sept. 6.