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Phones Defy Duma Secrecy

A wall of secrecy that parliament tried to build around Thursday's debate on Chechnya was breached by the latest fashion: mobile telephones.


Deputies taking part in a closed session of the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, quoted chairman Ivan Rybkin as saying the security service had monitored several mobile phones belonging to parliamentarians being used during the debate.


"We have got the numbers and will investigate," Rybkin was quoted as saying. It was not clear whether the deputies had been giving out information about the debate.


The Duma leaders imposed unprecedented restrictions on reporters Thursday. Security officials closed not only the meeting hall but even all the corridors and halls into which deputies come out during breaks and usually speak to reporters.

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