MOSCOW Boris Yeltsin heralded a possible cabinet shake-up Friday and said he would not seek a third term in the Kremlin effectively launching a presidential election campaign and sowing fresh confusion in Russia's shaky financial markets. Yeltsin, speaking to Russian media chiefs in the Kremlin, said he thought it might be necessary to change one or two members of his cabinet, but that Viktor Chernomyrdin should stay as prime minister, Russian news agencies said.

He also said he did not plan to run in the next presidential election, due in 2000, and had chosen his successor but had not decided when to announce his choice, they said. The government headed by Viktor Chernomyrdin must be kept on, ITAR-TASS news agency quoted Yeltsin as saying. The government should be stabilized, perhaps, one or two (ministers) should be changed, it went on.

They worked in difficult circumstances, it quoted him as adding. Other agencies reported similar comments, but none elaborated on what cabinet changes Yeltsin might have in mind. (Reuter)