Russia Approves New PM
The lower house of the Russian parliament on Monday had harsh words for President Yeltsin, for churning through five prime ministers in less than 18 months. But they approved Yeltsin's latest choice, Vladimir Putin, without putting up much of a fight. CBS News Correspondent David Hawkins reports.
Putin received 232 votes in an open ballot. He needed 167. Many analysts say the fear of losing their jobs was what compelled deputies to accept Putin.
Now the 46-year-old former KGB spy faces a tougher battle in Russia's south. In the Russian Republic of Dagestan, Muslim guerrillas have seized a handful of mountain villages and have declared the territory an independent Islamic state.
The Russian military has stepped up air and artillery attacks against the rebels, and many fear the conflict will escalate into a repeat of Russia's disastrous civil war in neighboring Chechnya.
Although Chechnya denies supporting the rebels, some of the very same Chechen warlords who battled Russia to a humilating defeat two years ago are leading the insurrection in Dagestan.
The Russian media is full of speculation that the Kremlin intends to use the crisis as an excuse to declare a state-of-emergency in Russia, and call off upcoming elections in order to keep Yeltsin in power.
Yeltsin today denied those rumors and said there's no plot to cancel the vote. He said the situation in Dagestan is under control.
His new prime minister though, was not so sure. Although Putin says the campaign to roust the rebels is working as planned, he told legislators they should quickly consider law for imposing a state-of-emergency, if only in Dagestan, just in case.
Many party leaders urged their deputies to hold off on a fight and reserve their energy for December elections. There was also the possibility that Putin would fall victim to YeltsinÂ's fickle axe.
Â"Why should we fight over Putin when he too could be removed in three months?Â" asked Communist leader Gennady Seleznyov last week.
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