(18 May 1996) Russian/Nat
President Boris Yeltsin has confirmed he offered to put liberal economist Grigory Yavlinsky in charge of Russia's market reforms if he dropped out of the presidential race.
Speaking while campaigning in Siberia, he explained he offered to make Yavlinsky a deputy prime minister, but added Yavlinsky wanted more.
It's clear that Yeltsin is trying to get all the support he can as opinion polls give conflicting assessments of his chances in the June presidential elections.
On his last leg of his visit to Krasnoyarsk as part of his campaign in Siberia, Yeltsin's emphasised he loved his motherland and its people.
But he also did some straight talking on politics.
He told the crowds he had offered to put liberal economist Yavlinsky in charge of Russia's market reforms if he'd drop out of the presidential race.
With Yavlinsky in tow, Yeltsin would have a fighting chance of halting the onward march of Russia's communists.
The two men had their second private meeting in a week Friday - apparently Yavlinsky demanded the sacking of several key ministers in return for his support for Yeltsin.
If Yavlinsky does not drop out of the race, there are fears that he could take away some of the democratic vote that Yeltsin so badly needs to make it to the second round.
SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
\"I think we may be able to agree with him, with Yavlinsky, because he's a democrat, he's a clever man. I respect him, we get on well. We've already met twice. There are conditions between us about what needs to be done for him to stand down from the first round and give his vote to me.\
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