Medvedev demands punishment for sinking

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev called Friday for stern punishment of the parties responsible for a cruise boat sinking that killed more than 100 people. As many as 208 people, far above legal capacity, were aboard the Bulgaria when it capsized in the Volga River Sunday. So far 113 bodies have been recovered, many of them children, and 79 passengers survived. The search of the wreckage ended Friday, and the boat will be brought to the surface over the weekend, RIA Novosti reported. "Everyone involved in organizing this should bear responsibility," Medvedev said when meeting with investigators at his residence. "Next time, every official, regardless of his rank, will understand that consequences for such a ship leaving a port can be not only disciplinary, but criminal." The head of the company that leased the boat and a river transport inspector were arrested Wednesday, and the captains of two ships that passed the sinking Bulgaria without attempting to rescue people also face charges.