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Yeltsin Might Extend Term of St Petersburg Mayor


St Petersburg, March 19 (RFE/RL) - The presidential representative in St Petersburg says President Boris Yeltsin might extend the term of Mayor Anatoly Sobchak into next year. Presidential Representative Sergei Tsyplyaev is quoted by our correspondent today as citing last week's controversial State Duma vote on the USSR-CIS as justification for Yeltsin's possible action.

St Petersburg's Legislative Assembly had passed an electoral law setting June 16 as the date for the city's election. Yeltsin, however, is opposed to St Petersburg holding elections at the same time as the presidential election - also June 16.

This month (March 12), Yeltsin issued a decree setting the date of St Petersburg's election as May 19. Sobchak said he agreed with Yeltsin, and submitted a revised draft of the electoral law. But, The Legislative Assembly was unable to take action, because some deputies walked out of the session. If the elections are to be held May 19, it is necessary to pass a law by tomorrow (Wed, March 20) to provide for sufficient time for the campaign, according to federal law.
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