WITH an economic and political storm raging in Russia and the world's stock markets hectic with volatile reaction, US President Bill Clinton goes to Moscow to embrace embattled Boris Yeltsin.

Here's the deal: Bill promises his backing for Russia as long as its sticks to its capitalist and democratic revolution.

Boris pledges not to reverse the reforms - but can't even get the Communists dominating his parliament to agree to back the Prime Minister he has appointed.

Meantime, for public consumption and to relay the notion that, well, they're working on it, folks, there is a circus show for the cameras - the bear hugs, the speeches and the smiles.

Yet, clearly Boris isn't sure what is going on and Bill is hamming it up for all he is worth.

This looked less like a meeting of two of the most powerful men on the planet than an encounter of two political cripples desperate for an uplift in their fortunes.

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