1.   Boris Yeltsin, has issued a decree placing the Russian media under his control to stop what he says is interference aimed at curtailing press freedom.

2.   Even this was attributed to a sense of relief when President Yeltsin took control of the Russian media to strengthen his position.

3.   PRESIDENT Boris Yeltsin yesterday seized control of the Russian media to stop it falling under the control of hardliners opposed to him as the constitutional crisis deepened.

4.   The Russian broadcast media and most newspapers are largely sympathetic to the president and could prove a powerful weapon in the national confidence vote.

5.   And the Russian media has so far played down the setbacks the military has suffered.

6.   At its worst, the new Russian media are still vastly better than in the old days when truth came only in state-approved shadings.

7.   After they left, Russian artillery pounded the settlement, causing numerous civilian casualties, according to Russian media reports from the area.

8.   But like other Russian media companies, NTV faces deep financial troubles.

9.   But the damage to his image was done, as reflected in coverage Tuesday in the Russian media and the commentary from independent analysts.