social reform bill Moscow, Aug 8, SPA -- Russia's upper house of parliament approveda controversial social reform bill on Sunday that would endan array of Soviet-era benefits, including freetransportation and medicine, for some of Russia's mostimpoverished and vulnerable people. The measure has sparked noisy protests in Moscow andaround this vast nation, and police had cordoned off theFederation Council building Sunday but the large proteststhat marked other key votes on the measure were absent.About six young protesters _ some wearing bright redT-shirts that read U.S.S.R. _ slipped inside the policecordon and then refused to budge; police physically lifteda few of them up and carried them into waiting police vans. The 179-seat Federation Council, which usuallyrubber-stamps legislation for the Kremlin, approved thegovernment-backed legislation by a vote of 156-5 with oneabstention. The measure had already won approval Thursdayin the lower house of parliament, which is dominated by thepro-Kremlin United Russia party, and now it goes toPresident Vladimir Putin for his signature. The bill will replace many of the long-standing Soviet-erabenefits with cash payments. An estimated 30 million people_ Russia's elderly, disabled and World War II veterans _will be affected.--more1422 Local Time 1122 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/189921