Holbrooke's mission is in response to a series of rapid-fire Kremlin volleys begun by President Boris Yeltsin last week.

CNN: Holbrooke heads to Moscow

Viktor Alksnis, one of the most prominent spokesmen for the Soviet old guard and leader of the Soyuz faction of the Supreme Soviet Parliament, became the latest in a series of prominent authorities on Kremlin intrigues to speculate openly that Mikhail Gorbachev may have been involved in orchestrating the recent abortive coup.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy