USSR: LITHUANIANS SURROUND KEY BUILDINGS IN VILNIUS/BORIS YELTSIN CALLS FOR A HALT TO KREMLIN'S USE OF FORCE IN BALTIC REPUBLICS
Record ID:
899128
USSR: LITHUANIANS SURROUND KEY BUILDINGS IN VILNIUS/BORIS YELTSIN CALLS FOR A HALT TO KREMLIN'S USE OF FORCE IN BALTIC REPUBLICS
- Title: USSR: LITHUANIANS SURROUND KEY BUILDINGS IN VILNIUS/BORIS YELTSIN CALLS FOR A HALT TO KREMLIN'S USE OF FORCE IN BALTIC REPUBLICS
- Date: 11th January 1991
- Summary: VILNIUS, LITHUANIA (JANUARY 12) (VISNEWS) SCU, LV: SOVIET SOLDIERS WITH MASKS, ON STREETS
- Embargoed: 6th July 2005 15:07
- Keywords:
- Location: USSR, VILNIUS
- Country: Russia
- Topics: General,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAF0C8D5BMXMN0SDCXVXBPYM5JI
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3
- Story Text: A pro-Moscow group in Lithuania said on Saturday (January 12) it was poised to take power in the rebel republic, after Soviet paratroopers seized key buildings in the capital, Vilnius.
The group, called the National Salvation Committee, said it was winning support from police and Lithuanian government ministers.
Soviet soldiers held buildings they had seized in or near Vilnius on Friday (January 11). About 2,000 Lithuanians gathered in front of their parliament on Friday for an all-night vigil to prevent a Soviet takeover. They sang nationalist songs and some women knelt in prayer. Later, members of the Lithuanian home guard were issued gas masks and petrol bombs in the parliament building.
On Saturday the Federation Council, the Soviet Union's top executive body, called for a political solution in Lithuania and authorised the sending of a delegation to the republic.
The Russian Federation gave its support to the rebel Baltic republics on Saturday, openly challenging Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev. A statement signed by Russian President Boris Yeltsin demanded that the Kremlin halt the use of force in Lithuania and the republics of Latvia and Estonia. Lithuanian President Vytautas Landsbergis welcomed Yeltsin's support, but said the republic remained in danger with Soviet military intentions unclear.
Addressing the presidents of Soviet republics, Gorbachev said on Saturday that recent events had moved Lithuania to the top of the agenda, but the Federation Council was still due to discuss the formation of a new cabinet and the proposed Union Treaty. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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