Boris Yeltsin has delivered his strongest criticism of Russia's parliament to date in an interview to be published in the popular weekly newspaper Argumenty i Fakty, accusing the legislature of obstructing economic reforms.


"God knows I have taken a lot of steps toward the Supreme Soviet", he said in a preview of the interview reported by Itar-Tass.


But he added that the parliament "clearly became conservative and in most cases it seems to be useless to expect from it any steps aimed at radical reform".


Regarding the parliament's decision to disregard his wishes and convene the Congress of People's Deputies, Russia's highest legislature, on Dec. 1, Yeltsin said he still hoped to persuade members of parliament to rescind their decision and postpone the Congress until next year.


The president attempted to discount the opposition to him in Congress, dismissing their rhetoric as hot air.


"They shout too much and have no social support", he said.


He did, however, single out the centrist opposition bloc Civic Union, which he said would deserve serious attention as soon as it produced a coherent economic program.


Their present 12-point plan, he said, was a collection of slogans.