SOVIET NATIONALITY PROPOSALS

The Soviet leadership, alarmed by nationalist turmoil bubbling across the country, Thursday proposed ``radical transformations in the Soviet federation'' to address the needs of its different nationalities. A Communist Party policy document said solving demands for greater autonomy, ending ethnic strife, and ``ensuring free development of spiritual life of all peoples of the Soviet Union'' were key factors of President Mikhail Gorbachev's reform program.

The document also said the rights of autonomous republics and regions - minority group subdivisions of the 15 ethnic republics - should be substantially widened.