The lower house of the Russian parliament, the Duma, has passed a resolution, calling on the doctors looking after President Yeltsin to submit a report on his health within ten days.

The resolution, which was initiated by the Communist Party, is not binding.

The Duma also decided to prepare a request to the constitutional court to clarify the procedure for stripping the President of his powers on health grounds.

Mr Yeltsin is in hospital recovering from pneumonia, but presidential officials say he may be back in the Kremlin on Monday.