KHASBULATOV SEEKS CHECHNYA LEADERSHIP.

Russian president Boris Yeltsin’s old foe Ruslan Khasbulatov launched a bid to become leader of breakaway Chechnya today, but there is a risk of violence disrupting next month’s elections. Khasbulatov, the former speaker of the Russian parliament, was nominated by his party in Chechnya–the People’s Union for the Revival of the Republic. He said he agreed to take part in the Chechnya election despite concern over recent bomb attacks and doubts that the polls would go ahead. The latest bombing rocked the city center early this morning, injuring two people. (1)

Central Russia Suffers from Energy Shortage for Fifth Day.