The Russian prime minister, Yevgeny Primakov, has stepped up pressure on parliament to pass a draft austerity budget for next year.

He told deputies at the start of a special debate in the lower house, the Duma, that Russia's negotiating position, and its need to obtain further international assistance, was dependent on approval without delay.

Mr Primakov earlier threatened to resign if the measures were rejected.

The powerful Communist Party leader, Gennady Zyuganov, had called for an initial vote to be postponed until next week but later said he would support it - even if it was still a bad budget.

The International Monetary Fund has made a credible budget a condition of any further loans.