YELTSIN MAKES LEBED TOP CHECHNYA NEGOTIATOR.

President Yeltsin has appointed security chief Aleksandr Lebed to head a new 17-member commission that will continue peace negotiations with the Chechen opposition. (Interfax, Itar-Tass, Reuters, October 14) The new commission will include government officials and the heads of the Russian regions that neighbor Chechnya. The appointment is a sign of continuing presidential support for Lebed’s peace efforts, despite fierce criticism from other Moscow leaders. Today, Lebed is to give an account of the situation in Chechnya at a closed session of the Russian Duma.

Chechen Leaders Propose Economic Treaty with Russia.