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Gorbachev goes
*** MOSCOW, Dec 25: The red Soviet flag was lowered over the Kremlin and the white, red and blue Russian flag was raised at 7:4 5 pm (1745 GMT). At 7:56 pm (1756 GMT), Gorbachev met with Yeltsin and handed over the nuclear codes to him, said Andrei Grachev, spokesman for the former Soviet President, reports AP. ***
MOSCOW. Dec 25 : Mikhail S Gorbachev, the eighth and final leader of the Soviet Union, resigned Wednesday night as president of the now-dissolved Communist empire, reports AP.
The red Soviet flag was lowered over the Kremlin and the white, red and blue Russian flag was raised at 7:45 pm (1945 GMT).
In a speech on nationwide television, Gorbachev said, "I cease my activities as president of the USSR."
After the speech. Gorbachev signed a decree that made Russian President Boris Yeltsin commander of the Soviet nuclear arsenal.
He outlined his successes during his nearly seven years in power, saying he had never become "a Czar."
"Society acquired freedom, liberated itself politically and spiritually, and this is the foremost achievement." Gorbachev said.
Speaking in front of a red Soviet flag in a room near his Kremlin office, Gorbachev blamed the failed August coup against hfs government for bringing the "general crisis to its limit." "The worse thing about this crisis is the collapse of statehood," he said.
"I am leaving my post with great concern, but also confidence" in the new leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States. He did not mention Yeltsin by name.
He thanked those "who stood by me in good will Sooner or later our common efforts will bear fruit.
"I wish all the best to all of
you," he said in concluding the 14 minute speech.
Yeltsin, once Gorbachev's rival, said earlier in the day that he was taking control of the Kretnltn's thousands of nuclear warheads upon the end of the speech. It was the last vestige of power that Gorbachev retained as the Soviet Union disintegrated.
Yeltsin was given the "nuclear button" as part of the transition of authority from the Soviet empire to the new commonwealth, which has been proclaimed by 1 1 of the 12 former Soviet republics.
Gorbachev, who came to power in March 1985 and unleashed sweeping political, social and economic reforms in the Communist superpower, was unable in the end to halt the union's disintegration.
When he tried to reshape the 15 Soviet republics into a new, looser union, hard-liners
•n the Kremlin sought to oust him in August. The coup failed and discredited the Communist Party, his source of authority. Power then shifted to Yeltsin and the other republics. most of which declared independence.
Allhough Gorbachev fought on for some kind of unibn, he was could not persuade the powerful Ukraine to participate, and its residents voted overwhelmingly for secession One week later. Yeltsin and the leaders of Ukraine and Byelorussia — meeting without Gorbachev — formed the new Commonwealth of Independent States and proclaimed the death of the Soviet Union. On Saturday, the Commonwealth grew to all of the remaining Soviet republics except Georgia, and Gorbachev was left without a country to govern.
Earlier, Gorbachev informed US President George Bush today that was handing control of Soviet nuclear forces over to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, the Tass news agency reported.
Gorbachev held a telephone conversation with the American President around 5.00 pm (1500 GMT). Tass said.
Reuter says President George Bush will make a nationally televised address tonight about the changes in the Soviet Union, the White House said.
Bush will cut short his Christmas holiday at Camp David. Maryland, to return to the White House -for the speech at 9 ppi, EST (0200 GMT). White House spokesman Marlin Fitzwater said in a call to wire service reporters.
The United States is expected to recognise Russian and several other former republics, according to US officials speaking on condition of anonymity. Some other nations have already recognised the Russian Federation, with the latest announcement coming from Lady.
US officials said that after Gorbachev announces his resignation. President Bush would offer a "eulogy" noting how Gorbachev led his country from communism to political and economic reform.
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