Gorbachev, Yeltsin private talks held

MOSCOW, Dee 11: Mikhail Gorbachev and Boris Yeltsin held private talks at the Kremlin today after both leaders met earlier with the country s top military leadership, officials said The Kremlin meeting came after Yeltsin apparently won backing from Soviet Defence Minister Marshal Yevgeny Shaposhnikov for his plans to create a new commonwealth between Russia. Ukraine and Belarus The independent news agency Interfax said Yeltsin had told Shaposhnikov and other top generals that the Minsk Accord was 'the only way to lead the country out of impasse." reports AFP

Armenia, Kirgizia agree to join commonwealth

MOSCOW. Dec 11 Russian President Boris N Yeltsin said Wednesday that the republics of Armenia and Kirgizia have agreed to join the commonwealth that was formed during the weekend by Russia. Byelorussia and Ukraine. Yeltstn told reporters that the republics of Kazakhstan. Tadzhikistan and Turkmenia will decide Thursday whether to Join reports AP

JP workers urged to observe "Anti-Repression Day*’

Acting Chairman of Jattya Party Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury has urged party workers to observe countrywide "Anti-Repression Day" today (Thursday) making the arrest of party chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Former President Ershad who was taken to custody on December 12 laat year was sentenced to 10 years’ Imprisonment for keeping Illegal arms. Mizan Chowdhury said Ershad had handed over power peacefully to the Chief Justice with the expectation that people’s democratic aspiration would be fulfilled. 'But our expectation has been dashed to the ground The present govern ment has completely failed to tackle the situation because nf Its inefficiency,' reports UNB

Honecker asked to leave Russia by tomorrow

MOSCOW, Dec 11: The Russian government has told former East German President Erich Honecker he must leave Russia by Friday or face extradition to Germanl. the newspaper Izvestia reported today. The report said Honecker had asked for political asylum from Soviet authorities, reports AFP.