The Russian prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, who's deputising for President Yeltsin - who's now in a Moscow sanatorium - is having talks in Austria with leaders of the European Union.

Mr Primakov was setting out Russia's plans to get out of its economic crisis and was expected to discuss how western Europe could help.

President Yeltsin is now undergoing treatment for what's said to be exhaustion.

The Communist leader, Gennady Zyuganov, accused Mr Yeltsin's aides of mocking the people by insisting that the president was fit to remain in office.

The BBC Moscow correspondent says Mr Yeltsin's grip on power has never looked more feeble.