The World - News from July 6, 1989

The Soviet legislature rejected the government’s nominee to head the state railway system, the second incumbent minister to be given the boot in as many days. The Supreme Soviet approved four government appointees but blocked the nomination of Nikolai S. Konarev, railroad boss since 1982, a day after throwing out the nation’s chief of foreign trade. By a vote of 204 to 130, with 40 abstentions, deputies rejected Konarev, 62, after criticism of the rail system’s safety record and passenger services, the official Tass news agency said. On Tuesday, the Supreme Soviet voted down the nomination of Vladimir M. Kamentsev, 61, who had directed foreign trade since it was revamped by Kremlin chief Mikhail S. Gorbachev in 1987.