08/31/1998 15:03:22 Russian Duma rejects Chernomyrdin as PM

MOSCOW, Aug 31 (Reuters) - Russia's State Duma, the lower

house of parliament, voted on Monday to reject President Boris

Yeltsin's choice of Viktor Chernomyrdin as prime minister.

Only 94 deputies supported Chernomyrdin in the vote in the

450-seat chamber and 253 opposed. He had needed the support of

at least 226 deputies. Yeltsin can now re-nominate Chernomyrdin

or put forward another candidate, and must dissolve the Duma if

it blocks his candidate or candidates three times.