-Caveat Lector- Yeltsin Fires Prime Minister By BARRY RENFREW .c The Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) -- President Boris Yeltsin fired Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov today and replaced him with a longtime ally, plunging Russia into a major political crisis. Primakov's dismissal was a virtual declaration of war between Yeltsin and his opponents in the Communist-dominated Duma, the lower house of Parliament where Primakov has strong support. Opposition and government politicians warned that Yeltsin now faced a major fight for his own political survival. Although the Kremlin said Primakov was dismissed because of his failure to rescue Russia's foundering economy, the real reason appeared linked to Thursday's start of impeachment hearings against Yeltsin. ``Today I made a difficult decision,'' Yeltsin said in a statement announcing the dismissal. Primakov had done a good job restoring stability, but had failed to turn around the economy, Yeltsin said. Russia must press ahead with free-market reforms, he added, hinting that Primakov had not really backed this strategy. ``We have no right to put off making decisions that are necessary for the revival of the economy for another six months ... Delays and procrastination, I am sure, are the most serious blow today to stability in the economy and the social sphere,'' Yeltsin's statement said. Sergei Stepashin, the interior minister and a deputy prime minister, was nominated to replace Primakov and was named acting prime minister, the Kremlin said. Stepashin is a longtime Yeltsin loyalist who heads the country's police forces. Stepashin's nomination was sent to the Duma for approval, but it appeared very unlikely to pass. Yeltsin had long been unhappy about Primakov's success as premier and his broad political and popular support. The president has a history of dismissing subordinates who even appear to overshadow him. At the same time, Yeltsin has become extremely unpopular, both with parliament and among Russians as a whole. Political leaders warned that Primakov's dismissal would almost certainly guarantee that the Duma will vote this week to impeach the president. To remove Yeltsin from office, however, the impeachment motion must also be approved by two-thirds majorities of the upper chamber of parliament and the supreme and the constitutional courts -- which was considered unlikely before Primakov's sudden dismissal. ``I think the president made a gross error. Maybe it is his most serious mistake recently,'' said Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznyov. Vladimir Ryzhkov, head of the pro-government Our Home is Russia party, said Yeltsin had made a major blunder. ``Primakov had brought political stability to the country. This is a serious mistake by the president. He should have thought well before taking the step.'' Yeltsin faces five impeachment charges, including instigating the 1991 Soviet collapse, improperly using force against hard-line lawmakers in 1993, launching the botched 1994-96 war in Chechnya, ruining the nation's military and waging genocide against the Russian people by pursuing economic policies that impoverished the country. Yeltsin met with Primakov for about 20 minutes today at the Kremlin but no details about their talks were released. Primakov was named in September when Yeltsin dismissed Sergei Kiriyenko after the Russian economy was hit by the global crisis in emerging markets. Primakov has been given broad credit for stabilizing the political situation and halting some of Russia's economic decline, although he failed to come up with an economic rescue policy. He was also criticized for opposing liberal market reforms, saying the state should play as big a role in running the economy. Yeltsin can make three nominations for premier. If they are all rejected by the Duma, the president must then call new elections within three months. Yeltsin would govern by decree with a temporary prime minister during that period. The lawmakers are unlikely to accept any Yeltsin nominee for premier and could refuse to disband if Yeltsin attempts to dissolve the Duma. In 1993, Yeltsin sent tanks and troops against the Duma after it refused his order to disband and opposition supporters rioted in Moscow. DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. 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