Mr Viktor Chernomyrdin: likely to dig at Mr Yeltsin

The Duma is composed of four official parties and three unofficial groupings.

Parties: Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF)

135 deputies. Leader: Gennady Zyuganov.

Officially opposed to Mr Kiriyenko but some of its deputies could be persuaded to desert to Mr Yeltsin's side.

Our Home is Russia (NDR)

67 deputies. Leader: Viktor Chernomyrdin.

The former prime minister's party will support Mr Yeltsin's nominee but Mr Chernomyrdin is likely to get a few digs against Mr Yeltsin into his speech.

Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR)

50 deputies. Leader: Vladimir Zhirinovsky.

This party is probably the least liberal and least democratic party on earth. It opposed Mr Kiriyenko last time out but is almost certain to support him this time.

Yabloko

45 deputies. Leader: Grigory Yavlinsky.

This party is probably the only truly democratic political grouping in Russia.

It will push for an open vote tomorrow. If it succeeds in this measure it will then vote en-bloc against Mr Kiriyenko. If a secret ballot is called the Yabloko members say they will walk out.

Groups:

People's Power (NV)

43 deputies. Leader: Nikolai Ryzhkov, a former prime minister of the Soviet Union.

Will vote for Mr Kiriyenko.

Regions of Russia

An informal grouping of provincial deputies.

It is likely to be split but most of the deputies will support Mr Yeltsin's candidate.

The rest of the Duma's deputies are independents and their votes are virtually impossible to predict.