YELTSIN UNDERGOES SURGERY.

Russian president Boris Yeltsin underwent heart bypass surgery this morning. The Kremlin says there were no complications and that the 7-hour operation is now over. Before going into surgery, Yeltsin signed a decree temporarily transferring his presidential powers to Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin. Yeltsin has had three heart attacks in the past 15 months. (BBC World Service, November 5)

Federal Property Transfers to the Regions Envisaged.