The managing director of the International Monetary Fund, Michel Camdessus, is due in Moscow today Tuesday following the postponement on Monday by the Russian government of a debate on next year's budget.

It's now due to take place next week.

No reason was given for the delay, but Russian media reports say that it is linked to the visit of Mr Camdessus, who is to meet the Prime Minister, Yevgeny Primakov.

The IMF is demanding a sound budget before it resumes its loans to Russia, which is the IMF's biggest borrower.

The IMF suspended lending after Russia devalued the rouble and defaulted on its foreign debt in August.