Moscow, 3 March 1997 (RFE/RL) -- A top Russian communist has called for the cabinet of Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin to step down and be replaced by a cabinet of national trust later this month.
Central Committee Secretary Valentin Kupzov was speaking today at a plenum of the Communist Party Central Committee held in Moscow. The meeting was formally devoted to the preparation of the party congress, but criticism of the government dominated proceedings.
Kupzov and other communist leaders said the party will support an all-Russian trade-union protest, expected for March 27. Delegate Vyacheslav Mikhailov said the communist party should prepare political actions aimed at supporting anti-government unrest.
Communist party leader Gennady Zyuganov said an increasing wave of strikes in Russia could lead to a state of emergency, similar to the one declered last night in riot-torn Albania.