Russian Congress fails to impeach Yeltsin: Early elections mooted as way out of crisis

RUSSIA'S political crisis appeared to be easing last night as both President Boris Yeltsin and his parliamentary opponents backed away from confrontation, amid hopes that the deadlock could be broken by early presidential and legislative elections in October.

Several hardliners called for Mr Yeltsin's impeachment on the first day of an emergency session of the Congress of People's Deputies, but no vote was taken.

In a nod towards the hardliners, Mr Yeltsin hinted at a 'new course' in the economy and sacked two reformers from the cabinet. But the President, in an aggressive speech to Congress, refused to give ground on his proposed referendum on 25 April. He repeated that the people of Russia should decide the balance of power between President and legislature.

On the same day, Russians will also be asked to approve a new constitution, held up by Congress since last year. 'I have made my choice. I leave my fate in the hands of the most just and supreme judge, the people,' Mr Yeltsin declared. 'God forbid we should embark on the road of confrontation with our own people.'

The cabinet reshuffle, removing the Economics Minister, Andrei Nechayev, and Boris Saltykov, a deputy Prime Minister, was a typical Yeltsin gesture, sacrificing reformers on the altar of political compromise. The President also sought to defuse demands for a 'government of national conciliation' by inviting political parties to nominate members to the cabinet.

Admitting that the economic crisis was 'aggravated by our mistakes' and by 'excessive hope in foreign aid', Mr Yeltsin vowed to change the course of economic reforms, and accused the central bank of triggering inflation. Mr Yeltsin's concessions did not mollify those members of Congress who gathered for an emergency session for the second time this month baying for presidential blood. Outside the Great Kremlin Hall, where Mr Yeltsin's speech was received in stony silence, Communists and nationalists gathered under a sea of red flags and urged Congress to impeach the President.

'Deputy, deputy, this is your Stalingrad,' they chanted, holding up banners calling Mr Yeltsin an enemy of the Russian people. But inside the hall his opponents were forced to accept that they did not have a two-thirds majority for impeachment.

Valery Zorkin, Chairman of the Constitutional Court, who only a few days ago was calling for Mr Yeltsin's impeachment, urged constitutional amendments to permit the holding of elections in the autumn to a new bi-cameral parliament, and the establishment of a coalition government in the interim.