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- WORLD, Page 59World NotesSOVIET UNIONYet More Nationalism
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- As if Mikhail Gorbachev didn't have enough problems, another
- epidemic of ethnic rioting broke out last week, this time in
- the Central Asian republic of Kirgizia. Fighting between
- Kirghiz and members of the Uzbek minority in the town of Osh
- began as a dispute over housing, then spread along the border
- with Uzbekistan and into Kirgizia's capital, Frunze. After five
- days, at least 78 people had been killed and almost 400
- injured, many shot by police. A state of emergency was
- declared.
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- The crisis of nationalism is destined to grow worse. Led by
- Gorbachev's nemesis, Boris Yeltsin, the parliament of the
- Russian Federation voted 544-271 for a draft resolution giving
- Russia the right to override the laws of the Soviet Union. When
- Yeltsin was elected head of the Russian government two weeks
- ago, he promised to declare "sovereignty" over the republic's
- economy and resources. If the bill is enacted, it will bring
- Russia into conflict with the Soviet constitution, and Yeltsin
- head to head with Gorbachev.
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