KGB disbandment criticised

The head of the Security Ministry, the former all-powerful KGB security police which President Boris Yeltsin dissolved last week, yesterday criticised the decision and warned it could damage Russia's security, Reuter reports.

Nikolai Golushko, in his first public comment since Mr Yeltsin disbanded his ministry, told reporters the ministry could lose about 30 per cent of its officers when it is transformed into a counter-intelligence service. 'At least after the October events I would not have made such abrupt movements,' he said, referring to the October revolt crushed by government tanks.

Mr Golushko, 56, a career KGB officer, strongly defended the record of the Security Ministry. 'The Security Ministry was not the KGB of course. For the first time the ministry has started to operate on the basis of a law,' he said.