President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said he would veto legislation to authorize the removal of Soviet war monuments, specifically a memorial in the capital, Tallinn, known as the Bronze Soldier. The monument, viewed by many in Estonia as a symbol of Soviet occupation after World War II, has become the focus of intense protests in Estonia and had prompted furious denunciations from Russia. Parliament had narrowly approved the legislation to relocate the Bronze Soldier in a third and final vote earlier in the day, but in a statement Mr. Ilves called aspects of the legislation unconstitutional, though he did not elaborate.

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