MERRILL LYNCH <MER> FIRES VASKEVITCH Merrill Lynch and Co Inc fired the head of the mergers department in its London office today, saying he had been unable to provide a "satisfactory explanation" in response to insider trading charges filed yesterday by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Merrill had suspended the official, Nahum Vaskevitch, yesterday saying at the time it was "disappointed and angry" if the SEC charges are true. Merrill Lynch's statement at midday today said the firm will continue to cooperatie fully with authoriteis in the U.S. and London investigating Vaskevitch's activities.