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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (April 9, 1992)
World & Nation Page 12 The Battalion Thursday, Apn'19, Opposition to Yeltsin's reforms rises Members of Russian parliament threaten to revoke president's special powers jack to his MOSCOW (AP) — Russian lawmakers ap peared to be on the verge of revoking Presi dent Boris Yeltsin's extraordinary powers on Wednesday as momentum swung ba opponents during a crucial parliamentary session. Yeltsin still has time to lobby or compromise be fore a possible vote today to declare "dissatisfaction" with his market reforms and cancel his authority to issue economic decrees without legislative ap proval. The loss of his special powers, granted by parlia ment a year ago, would be a severe blow to the reforms and could lead to an overhaul of Yeltsin's cabinet. "If the president loses his extraordinary powers and his ability to lead the government, the entire cabinet of course will resign," Vice Premier Yegor Gaidar, the architect of the re- Yeltsin forms, told a meeting of Yeltsin supporters Wednesday night. "I'm afraid the odds are pretty good that the president will lose his additional powers," said Gleb Yakunin, a lawmaker and Russian Orthodox priest. "You can see that a large part of these deputies are still pro-Communist at heart," Yakunin said. Yeltsin had seized the initiative in the 1,046- member Congress of People's Deputies, domi nated by former Communists, with a speech Tuesday warning that a reduction in his pow ers could "plunge the country into chaos." He bolstered his support among Russian hard-liners by countering Ukraine's claim to the Black Sea fleet and by speeding up the for mation of a separate Russian army. In a corridor just outside the meeting hall, Yeltsin supporters hung a hand-drawn picture of a grenade with a pin in the shape of the president's face. If it were withdrawn, the grenade — labeled "totalitarianism" and "anarchy" — would ex plode. But Yeltsin's opponents took the offensive on Wednesday, forcing him to return to his lonely seat in front of the parliament and listen in silence as they accused him of reducing the Russian people to poverty. "Reformers who began the so-called shock therapy must now learn two new (phrases): first aid and resuscitation, because that is what most of the population needs," said lawmaker Valery Vorontsov. Yeltsin's economic program has caused prices to soar and "pushed millions of people into poverty," Vorontsov said. At the start of the session in the Grand Kremlin Palace, Yeltsin left his chair, directly under a huge Russian flag that covers a Com munist-era portrait of Lenin. Aides said he was attending an important meeting of Russia's constitutional commission in another wing of the former czar's palace. But lawmakers voted 606 to 149 to ask him to come back to hear their criticism. Officials charge accountant with security fraud WASHINGTON (AP) - A for mer accountant at a Houston chemical company, using inside information about a planned merger gleaned from his superi ors' travel expenses, allegedly made more than $670,000 in illegal trading profits, officials charged Wednesday. Edward Ruggiero, former in ternal audit supervisor at Vista Chemical Co. — without admit ting or denying wrongdoing — agreed to give up $678,343 in al leged illegal trading profits plus interest to settle civil charges orig inally brought last year by the Se- Co Ex-auditor agrees to pay over $600,000 to Securities and Exchange Commission sion. A friend of his, Christopher S. Parker, also of Houston, agreed to pay $198,156 to settle similar charges brought by the SEC, which bars individuals privy to confidential corporate information from trading on it before it be comes public. curities and Exchange Commis- Meanwhile, a federal grand jury in Houston returned a 39- count fraud indictment against both men stemming from their al leged illegal trading activities. The SEC alleged Ruggiero, a certified public accountant, and Parker made about $873,000 in il legal trading profits by buying Vista securities while possessing confidential information about a German energy company's planned acquisition of the Hous ton company. Vista was acquired by a sub sidiary of Essen, Germany-based RWE AG. According to the SEC, Ruggiero allegedly used his position at Vista to obtain the confidential in formation by talking with Vista executives and gleaning informa tion from their travel and expense reports about where they were go ing and with whom they were meeting. In the criminal indictment, Houston U.S. Attorney Ron Woods said the pair was charged with varying counts of securities fraud and wire fraud. If convicted, Parker faces a maximum penalty of 105 years in prison and fines of $5.2 million. Labor party may edge out Conservatives Polls indicate Parliament leans! toward minority government LONDON (AP) - Prime Minister John Major and Labor Party leader Neil Kinnock both predicted victory on the eve of Britain's na tional elec tions. Today, voters may both Major prove men wrong. At the end of a fre netic three- week cam paign that scarcely altered the opinion polls, Britain appeared headed for a minority govern ment that would end 13 years of unshakable Conservative Party rule. Recent polls put Labor sup port at 40 percent, a 2 -to 3-. point edge over the Conserva tives. Only the Liberal Democrats, up 4 points to 20 percent, have gained signifi cantly. If neither of the big para wins a majority in the Housel Commons, Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown'sf for support is a commitment! change the rules. Ashdown wants to ab the British system ofwinnel takes-all in all 651 districtsaij adopt a voting system thata cates seats based oneachpal ty's share of the national vote [ If the voting is as closeasb polls indicate, the outcomes not be known until Fridayaftrl noon, w’hen the last three do; districts are expected torepoc.l Major, facing a loss oil 1 huge majority he inherited! 1 months ago from Margaiej Thatcher, insisted he was "if solutely stone-cold certain winning a majority on Thu day. "If it were not forthedfel culties and bruises that hi been caused by recession,] don't think there wouldbea: doubt there would beam: creased majority for the Cons vatives," said Major. Bush refuses to curtail political use of Air Force One WASHINGTON (AP) - The Bush ad ministration is scouring its operations to stop unjustified "perks," but draws the line at any suggestion the president cur tail political use of Air Force One, Budget Director Richard Darman said Wednes day. "The public is rightly disturbed about some patterns it sees in Congress and the executive branch," Darman said at a hear ing of the Senate Appropriations subcom mittee that oversees White House spend ing. But he said Americans draw a distinc tion between Bush, who has a right to "the dignity of the office," and lesser offi cials "who are trying to act like presi dents." The subcommittee chairman. Sen. Den nis DeConcini, D-Ariz., disputed a White House practice of requiring reimburse ment of the equivalent of first-class air fare for political travel. The president's specially modified Boeing 747 costs $25,000 an hour to operate, he said. "To me, there's something wrong," said DeConcini. "If the president uses this and mixes politics with official business. the politics has to pay the real cost." ‘ ?d t| Darman defended the policy, however. He said Bush, even when traveling for po litical purposes, cannot escape his duties as commander in chief and needs a coterie of personnel and equipment. He does not have the option of using commercial flights, Darman noted. Charging the Bush re-election cam paign, or other candidates on whose be half the president travels, the full cost of Air Force One would be prohibitive and ut the incumbent at a disadvantage to is Democratic opponents, Darman con- h tended. Then, in a dig at one Democratic con tender, he asked, "Does Jerry Brown have a regular job?" Wednesday's hearing came in the midst of a Washington frenzy over the privileges of office: — The General Accounting Office is sued an audit that found two top admin istration officials — Secretary of State James A. Baker III and former White House Chief of Staff John Sununu — rolled up $774,000 in personal and politi cal travel on military planes in two years. but reimbursed taxpayers for less th: percent of that cost. — A House subcommitteeprepwi/to a hearing Thursday on peiVs.lWtei man. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, D-Pa,said,"j the White House does notcoopeia these are not going to be very pleas: hearings." He said all officials shouldbem aware of the costs of government to they undertake, suggesting they mij more conservative about trips il knew the expense. Esprit de Corp junior collections with a warm weather bonus for you Relax in the springtime sun in our new Esprit spring and summer collections. Shown here, a multi-media camp shirt mixes patterns for a fun time, 44.00, paired with belted white shorts, 46.00 A soft chambray shirt, 36.00, is worn over anti-fit, striped shorts, 40.00. All cotton in a range of summer brights and soft pastels. Junior sizes 1-11 and s-m-1. The collection, 24.00-86.00 BONUS. With your 50.00 or more purchase of Esprit for juniors, you receive a pure cotton T-shirt at no additional cost. One per customer please, while supply lasts. Don’t miss our Girbaud Event this Saturday, April 11, from 1-3 p.m.! A live band will be performing in our men’s department. Register for our prize giveway. Meet the Girbaud Specialist and shop our. new floor. Complimentary frizbees while they last! Dillard’s Jury finds 2 policemei not guilty Verdict angers widoi of shooting victim SAN ANTONIO (AP)-Al! eral jury has found two policed and the city did not violate constitutional rights of a mansl to death after a high-speed pressway chase. A three-man, four-woman j: ruled Tuesday that Patrol® David Alonzo and DanielGs giou did not use excessive ffij Oct. 4, 1987, when theyfiredf shots that killed Michael l.Kf fus. The shooting occurred at end of a 10-mile chase involving stolen pickup. Alonzo testified opened fire when Kaulfus," : was unarmed, made an sive move with his hiddenrif 1 hand. Georgiou joined in the shot ing shortly thereafter. The officers previously"' cleared by internal police revii 11 and a county grand jury inves 1 gation. Their relatives hugged thef' patrolmen after the jury's verf was read, while Kaulfus' wid' appeared near tears. "You know how I feel/' 5 ; Tina Kaulfus. "I think wrong. The 28-year-old widow 55 ; the fact the two officers fired' times at her husband prove 5 was excessive force. Kaulfus'!^ ily was seeking $2.5 millio | 'j damages from the city and two officers. SHOr > DILLARD'S MONDAY Tl IKOL'CI (SATURDAY 10-9; SUNDAY 12-6; POST OAK MALL, IIARVLY K< >AD AT l IIGIIWAY 6 BYI’ASS, COLLEGE STATION. DILLARD'S AND ALL MAIOR CREDIT CARDS WELCOME. Jurors deliberated nearly se' 1 hours before reaching a decisi* in the three-week-old trial. Joe Mitchell, a Houston aW ney representing plaintiffs, 551 he was disappointed andtha decision had been made whether to appeal the verdict The defendants said they"® relieved. Vol. 9 1 LOP lajor, soapbc "Zonse Jeared tion vie Witl [of the [casting jed the [overal [mons. [jected |Democ Proji Br ex- in< ini Offic poss BREI possible before h explosic ing the day. Chan era bon < Transpc (NTSB), valve cc caught < sion. "Thei about a : indicatir status," valve w valve th nal in f valve in consequi valve clc Georj spokesm investige The f 10:30 a. lowed in the disas Moch connect! ing valv was four connect! he said. These to a Was tion. Invest three w Pipeline large wc the air O' before th "We'r In Sun incl As th< The Batta provide anced an age. "First provide t and thes — witho porting o first year Graduate Secom ture jou: newspapi Stone