
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 29, 1990                   TAG: 9005290316
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A/1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MOSCOW                                LENGTH: Medium

YELTSIN CHOSEN TO LEAD LARGEST SOVIET REPUBLIC

Radical reformer Boris Yeltsin triumphed over opposition from Mikhail Gorbachev to win the presidency of the largest Soviet republic today in what he called "Russia's social, economic and spiritual rebirth."

After three hard-fought ballots in the 1,060-member Russian Congress of People's Deputies, Yeltsin won 535 votes, four more than the majority he needed. Russian Premier Alexander Vlasov received 467 ballots.

Yeltsin now poses a substantial challenge to Gorbachev, who retains the two most powerful jobs in the country: president of the Soviet Union and general secretary of the Soviet Communist Party.

However, Vitaly Churkin, Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze's principal adviser on foreign affairs, said Yeltsin's election could strengthen Gorbachev's campaign for economic reforms.

"I think . . . the election of Mr. Yeltsin . . . might actually help Gorbachev because Gorbachev is for radical reform, and he needs more popular support for that," Churkin said on NBC's "Today" program.

After the result was announced in the Grand Kremlin Palace, the 59-year-old Yeltsin strode to the podium, received warm applause and cheers from fellow lawmakers, and was handed a bouquet of flowers.

Yeltsin said he felt "a certain satisfaction, but at the same time, I have much more a feeling of responsibility at this turning point for Russia and the country."

"I pledge not to spare anything - health or time - to do everything to get out of this crisis and lead Russia to better times," Yeltsin said in his victory speech.

Gorbachev actively opposed Yeltsin's election, telling the Russian Congress last week that his platform of moving political and economic power from central to local authorities would lead to a "breakup of the union."

As the president of Russia, Yeltsin will have a highly visible platform from which to wage his campaign for more radical reforms than those pursued so far by Gorbachev.

Yeltsin has broadly outlined a plan that would more rapidly seek a transition to a market-based economy, giving more freedom to enterprises and entrepreneurs.

by CNB