DUMA GIVES MOSCOW CONTROL OF CONTINENTAL SHELF

. On July12, the Duma passed a law giving Moscow, rather than the regions,control of mineral wealth on the country’s 200-mile wide continentalshelf, PIA-Interfax reported. The new law conflicts with earlierlegislation which gave the adjoining regions the right to exploitthis area. Not only will the new bill infuriate many regionalgovernments but it could also put on hold Western investment projectssuch as the Sakhalin-I oil field until the conflict is resolved.In another move with political implications, the Duma overrodeYeltsin’s veto of a measure that will require government officialsto testify when called before the Duma or its committees, Interfaxreported July 12. The motion to override received 308 votes, eightmore than needed.

Sverdlovsk Workers Use Tank in Protest