DECEMBER 31, 20:53 EST

Yeltsin Quits, Is Granted Immunity

By BARRY RENFREW Associated Press Writer

Yeltsin leaves the Kremlin AP/Itar Tass [27K] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "MOSCOW (AP)  Pleading for forgiveness, Boris Yeltsin resigned Friday as president, clearing the way for his hand-picked successor to take Russia into a new age and fix the mistakes he admitted having made through eight chaotic years.

Yeltsin, apologizing for failing to fulfill Russians' dreams for a better life, turned over power to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the country's most popular politician.

Putin took control of the government and will serve as acting president until elections are held in 90 days. The change came just two weeks after Putin's supporters scored a surprise tri ..." http://wire.ap.org/?FRONTID=HOME&SITE=CALOS

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), January 01, 2000

Answers

Look out West,Putin will drive Russia back to a global Superpower for sure.

-- Eye (I@I.I), January 01, 2000.

Putin quickly signed a decree giving Yeltsin immunity from criminal prosecution, a lifetime pension and a government country home, bodyguards and medical care for him and his family.

"...But while the immunity will be seen by some as a key reason for Yeltsin's decision, the deal did not include his family, which has been linked to corruption allegations in recent months. Previous prime ministers, who also had their eye on the presidency, had talked of such a deal for Yeltsin, who is also concerned about Communist efforts to jail him for breaking up the Soviet Union...."

just thought this was rather interesting....sdb

-- S. David Bays (SDBAYS@prodigy.net), January 01, 2000.

Putin is no punk. A hardheaded realist is EXACTLY what Russia and the rest of us need in charge there. Looking foreward to him, with fingers crossed.

-- Carlos (riffraff1@cybertime.net), January 01, 2000.