YELTSIN DECREES NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING.

YELTSIN DECREES NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING.

Yeltsin set June 22 as a national day of mourning for the 121 people killed and 200 injured during the hostage crisis in Budennovsk, Itar-Tass said June 22. Meanwhile, Moscow stepped up security in the Russian capital. According to Interfax on June 21, the authorities have already brought in some 7,000 troops and will bring in 9,000 more. Among them will be 4,000 heavily armed paratroopers with 30 armored personnel carriers and other defensive weapons. So far, these units have been employed to crack down on those living in Moscow without permission: On June 20, some 12,000 people were arrested in Moscow, one-sixth of them were from the North Caucasus, but the North Caucasians were charged in only 16 of the 138 crimes registered that day. Radio commentaries have suggested that the introduction of these new forces may be directed not so much at potential terrorists as at Yeltsin’s political opponents.

Duma Passes Referendum Law.