Moscow, July 4 (RFE/RL) -- A top Russian Communist official says his party would still demand key posts in the government after the defeat of its leader Gennady Zyuganov by President Boris Yeltsin in yesterday's presidential election. Anatoly Lukyanov said that Zyuganov's showing entitled the Communists to enter the government. With most of the ballots counted, Zyuganov had more than 40 percent of the vote, 13 points behind Yeltsin.
Lukyanov said his party would aim at senior ministerial positions in a new government and warned that accepting minor posts would "discredit the idea of a coalition with Yeltsin."
The Kremlin so far has given no indication it will give major posts to its Communist opponents, although Yeltsin said in a televised address today that a new Russian government will have "room for everyone the voters have trusted."
In his first public appearence since voting ended, Zyuganov declined comment today on his election defeat until the full official results are ready. Questioned by reporters outside his Moscow apartment, he neither acknowledged defeat nor questioned the overall result.
Lukyanov said his party would aim at senior ministerial positions in a new government and warned that accepting minor posts would "discredit the idea of a coalition with Yeltsin."
The Kremlin so far has given no indication it will give major posts to its Communist opponents, although Yeltsin said in a televised address today that a new Russian government will have "room for everyone the voters have trusted."
In his first public appearence since voting ended, Zyuganov declined comment today on his election defeat until the full official results are ready. Questioned by reporters outside his Moscow apartment, he neither acknowledged defeat nor questioned the overall result.