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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Communists want to oust Russian govt |
| 2005-01-19 |
 MOSCOW: Russia's Communist Party mounted a campaign Tuesday to oust the government in a direct challenge to President Vladimir Putin following weeks of nationwide protests sparked by drastic cuts in social welfare benefits. The State Duma lower house of parliament's left wing said it would collect the 90 signatures required in the 450-seat chamber to hold a confidence vote on the year-old government of Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov. The challenge is unlikely to succeed because the chamber is dominated by the pro-Putin United Russia party that voted for the drastic cut in Soviet-era social benefits which sparked the largest protests of Putin's five-year rule. "I see no reason for the government to resign," said Duma speaker and United Russia chief Boris Gryzlov. "They are just playing politics," agreed his deputy Oleg Morozov. |
| Posted by:Fred |