YELTSIN MAY FACE RIVAL FOR PRESIDENCY

Former Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Ryzhkov jumped back into the political limelight Wednesday, announcing he was ready to run against Boris Yeltsin in the election for the Russian presidency June 12. Mr. Ryzhkov, who retired in January after health problems the previous month, told the daily Komsomolskaya Pravda he had been approached by representatives of workers and public organizations seeking to nominate him for the post.

For the first time in Soviet history the president of the Russian Federation will be elected by direct popular vote and thus will get the strongest political power base in the country.