Russian television quoted doctors who are treating the president as saying that although his condition is satisfactory he would be kept in hospital.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Yakushkin said Mr Yeltsin's temperature had dropped back to normal after he was given antibiotics.

Despite taking ill, the president was able to hold talks with visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Monday at the Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow.

BBC's Robert Parsons: "Little more than a figurehead president"

Officials said the two leaders met for 40 minutes and signed statements on border demarcation and developing ties between the two countries.

Russian television broadcast pictures of the men talking and Mr Yeltsin smiling broadly.

BBC Moscow Correspondent Andrew Harding said the Kremlin are keen to maintain the appearance of business as usual.

Ill health

This is the latest of a long line of health scares surrounding the Russian leader.

In October, he cut short a visit to Central Asia and doctors later ordered him to rest, saying he was suffering from nervous exhaustion.

His health problems have forced him to cancel several foreign trips but he continues to receive foreign leaders in Moscow.

President Yeltsin has insisted repeatedly that he will serve out his term, which ends in the year 2000.

He has suffered more than two years of ill health and had to undergo a multiple heart bypass operation after his re-election in 1996.

Last month his deteriorating health forced him to hand over the day-to-day government of the country to his Prime Minister, Yevgeny Primakov.

BBC's Andrew Harding: Even foreign trips seem to be beyond him

Opposition leaders have been calling for Mr Yeltsin to stand down saying he is too unwell to carry out his duties.

However our correspondent says that unless Mr Yeltsin is entirely immobilised he should be able to continue in his role which has effectively become that of a ceremonial head of state.