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Wheezing, Tired Chernenko Appears on TV for 6 Minutes

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United Press International

President Konstantin U. Chernenko, wheezing and holding onto a chair for support, was shown on Soviet television today, officially acknowledging a new mandate to govern and speaking to election officials.

The six-minute appearance was the Soviet leader’s second public appearance in five days, after an absence of two months due to illness.

Chernenko, 73, appeared wan and tired and held onto a chair for support as an election official handed him documents affirming his unanimous election to the Russian Federation Supreme Soviet.

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Wheezing and with obvious difficulty in breathing, Chernenko thanked the officials, who included Moscow party chief Viktor Grishin, and accepted a bouquet of flowers.

Chernenko was then shown seated at a small conference table, talking about the election with Grishin and other officials. He read a brief speech in which he thanked the voters for their support.

Chernenko ended a two-month absence from public view Sunday during a shaky television appearance that did little to assure the public he was in good health. It was widely believed that the appearance, to cast a ballot during local elections, was staged in a hospital room.

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