Duma defiant

The Russian Duma (lower house of parliament) defied President Boris Yeltsin and voted to create daily radio and television slots to broadcast its own account of proceedings, Reuter reports from Moscow. The president's office attacked the plan, comparing it with actions by the old legislature Mr Yeltsin abolished by force in October. Communist and nationalist deputies view the programmes as a counter-balance to pro-Yeltsin news media they say give a biased account of the Duma or ignore it altogether.