If the president plays his cards right, he could pull off a political coup.

ECONOMIST: Cuba and America

But he managed to pull off a major coup - even if there were only 167 votes between him and his Labour rival.

BBC: Fat lady's friend

Whether the remainder of the military remains passive (in which case the communists probably can pull off a Bolshevik-style coup) or moves to defend Yeltsin and the reform program which he must now reembrace and reinvigorate (in which case the Old Guard probably cannot) may turn on perceptions about the degree of popular support the reformers enjoy.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy