Moscow - Nothing could be a more visual throwback to the scarcity of Soviet days then the yawning bare shelves at some of Moscow's small grocery chains this week.

Kremlin critics have even voiced hope that such - so far limited - signs of economic crisis could turn the populace against former president-turned-premier Vladimir Putin.

Moscow - Rebels in the Caucasus republic of Ingushetia attacked Saturday a Russian army convoy, killing two soldiers and wounding at least five, the military said.

A military staff spokesman told the Interfax agency that at least 30 rebels took part in the attack on the convoy.

The Ingushetia opposition claimed that far higher casualties were inflicted on the Russian soldiers, with its internet site ingueshetia. org - citing what were termed unofficial accounts - that 50 soldiers died in the attack.

Moscow/Tskhinvali - Leaders of the breakaway Georgian republic of South Ossetia accused Tbilisi on Saturday of violating the ceasefire agreement that ended August's five-day war with Russia over the region.

South Ossetian Interior Minister Mikhail Mindsayev was quoted by the Interfax news agency in the capital Tskhinvali as saying that the Georgians fired on a South Ossetian sentry post early on Saturday morning.

No one was injured in the attack.

Moscow/Tskhinvali - Georgia's breakaway region of South Ossetia on Saturday once again accused Georgia of violating the ceasefire that ended August's five-day war with Russia over the region.

The Georgians fired on a South Ossetian sentry post Saturday morning, South Ossetian Interior Minister Mikhail Mindsayev was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying in the capital of Tskhinvali.

No one was injured in the attack.

The shots were fired from a machine gun located in the Georgian village of Nikosi as the South Ossetian guards were taking up their posts, he said.

South Ossetia and Georgia have traded accusations of violating the ceasefire since the conflict ended.

New Delhi, Oct.17: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will be visiting India on October 20.

During the visit, he will meet the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee.

Both are expected to review bilateral relations in diverse spheres and discuss regional and international issues of mutual interest.

A protocol on holding regular consultations between the Ministry of External Affairs of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation during 2009-2010 is expected to be signed during the visit.

Mukherjee and Lavrov last met each other in New York on September 28 on the sidelines of the 63rd UNGA meeting.

Tallinn - A young Russian-born girl abandoned in the Estonian capital, Tallinn, remains in the care of local social services nearly a week after she was found.

The two-year-old was found alone near a shopping centre in Tallinn last Saturday, sparking a widespread media campaign in an effort to identify her.

That paid dividends on Tuesday when a relative contacted police and revealed the girl was born to Russian parents but sent to Estonia to live with an uncle. Estonia has a sizeable ethnic Russian minority, accounting for around a quarter of the population.