The republics demand a monopoly on taxation, which would guarantee them control over the purse strings.

The Baltic republics demand full independence.

The republics also have demanded that three nuclear-power generators still operating at the Chernobyl plant be closed by 1995.

In 1990 the Soviet Union itself began to crumble as the separate republics demanded independence, and in 1991 the Union was scrapped.

Russians, who are also the Soviet Union's largest ethnic group, are feeling put upon these days as smaller republics and groups demand a larger voice in the country or else secession.

He condemned "regional egoism" but hinted at support for greater economic independence in republics, as Baltic republics and others have demanded.

Izvestia said further that republics were demanding that ambassadors be appointed by the council of foreign ministers, and be responsible to the republic leaders.

During November the mainly Moslem autonomous republic of Chechen-Ingushetia within the Russian Federation demanded its independence after a leadership change in August.

But it would prefer to avoid any border changes when its republics are demanding independence.

Constituent republics are demanding considerably more control over their fates.