COMMUNIST LAMBASTES AILING YELSTIN.

Byline: Associated Press 

Calling Russia a sinking ship, the Communist Party leader renewed criticism of Boris Yeltsin on Saturday and other would-be successors also kept high profiles in the ailing president's absence.

Yeltsin remained out of the public eye for a 19th straight day, recovering from pneumonia and the flu. But even the weekend brought no silence from politicians who again are eyeing the top Kremlin job.

Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov, who received 30 million votes in last year's presidential election, suggested at a news conference in St. Petersburg that rising political turmoil could boil over into unrest if the Kremlin doesn't turn things around. He called 1997 a critical year.

``Either it will all burst out onto the streets or there will be enough political wisdom and will to bring together the efforts of the healthier part of society, change the course and work out an adequate program,'' the Interfax news agency quoted him as saying.

The top Communist called Russia's situation tragic and said its economy is ``completely collapsing,'' comparing the nation to a sinking ship.

Foreign lenders and others are less apocalyptic about Russia's profound economic problems, tentatively endorsing its free-market reforms and stability despite six straight years of falling production.

Alexander Lebed, the hugely popular retired general, announced plans to speak at the Davos international economic forum that starts next week in Switzerland.