The Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, has expressed strong support for his two top economic reformers whose influence has been under attack in recent months. Mr Yeltsin also made it clear he wanted the reformers -- the first deputy prime ministers Anatoly Chubais and Boris Nemtsov -- to stay in his government until the year 2000.

The President was speaking as the Russian parliament continued its debate on the government's austerity budget.

A BBC correspondent in Moscow says that while the two men will be grateful for his support, some believe that it was Mr Yeltsin himself who -- in political manoeuvring -- transferred many of their responsibilities to the Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin.

It was he who blamed them for failing to pay back wages on time and he who transferred many of their responsibilities to the Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin.

The correspondent says Boris Yeltsin is a past master at maintaining his own authority by playing off the rival ambitions of his ministers.

He says it appears Mr Yeltsin now feels he has clipped the wings of his young reformers enough. He's brought them down down a peg, but needs to keep them on board to make sure economic reform stays on track.

The message won't be lost on Mr Chernomyrdin, whose star is in the ascendent at the moment. He is thought to be the establishment's choice to run for president if Mr Yeltsin steps down.

But, the correspondent says, the months ahead will not be easy for Mr Chernomyrdin. He has to prove himself in the time left before the start of the electoral campaign. If he fails, he knows the young reformers are waiting in the wings.
 

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