WORLD IN BRIEF : MONGOLIA : Ex-Leaders Face Corruption Trials

The Mongolian government will try a Stalinist former prime minister, an ex-president and 10 other former leaders on corruption charges, a government spokesman said. No court date has been announced for the 12 Communist hard-liners who once ran Mongolia. Among them are former Prime Minister Dumaagiyn Sodnom, who retired in March, 1990, when the Communist Party renounced its monopoly on power and former President Jambyn Batmonh, who left office at the same time. They are charged with misappropriation of millions of dollars of state funds, the government spokesman said. The official newspaper Unen reported that the 12 received special privileges while in office, including free apartments for their children and expensive overseas trips for relatives and friends.