RUMORS:

Boris Yeltsin summoned Grigory Yavlinsky, the reform economist and leader of the “Yabloko” faction in the Duma, to his hospital bedside for some political chit-chat. The unusual event touched off yet another wave of rumors of an impending cabinet shake-up. The latest round of stories have the president replacing communist ministers with “liberals” (like the thrice hired but four times fired Anatoly Chubais) and perhaps sacking Prime Minister Primakov himself. The rumors are doubly untrustworthy: They come from suspect sources and are spread by media outlets belonging to business oligarchs with a distinct interest in the outcome. Even so they attract attention and–who knows?–may turn out to be true.