Russian news reports on President Yeltsin's state of health as he recovers from a viral infection:

Yeltsin may not resume full duties for another three weeks - Kremlin official

Excerpts from report by Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 16th December

Boris Yeltsin has been told that for the time being he should not go for walks outside because of the freezing weather...

The press service of the head of state, referring to the doctors looking after him, reported today that Boris Yeltsin's condition was stable...

A highly-place medical source confirmed to our radio station that the president was really feeling better. However, it is not ruled out that Boris Yeltsin will resume his full working schedule only in another three weeks.

This was stated by a high-ranking spokesman of the Kremlin administration who wished to remain anonymous.

Source: Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow, in Russian 1200 gmt 16 Dec 97

"No question" of moving Yeltsin to Central Clinical Hospital - aide

Text of report by Russian news agency Interfax

Moscow, 16th December: The Russian President's press secretary, Sergey Yastrzhembskiy, has categorically denied rumours of the deterioration of Boris Yeltsin's health.

On Tuesday [16th December], Yastrzhembskiy said in an Interfax interview that the president remained at the Barvikha sanatorium outside Moscow.

Despite the rumours, there is no question of Yeltsin being transferred to the Central Clinical Hospital, the press secretary stressed.

He recalled that a number of arrangements on Boris Yeltsin's schedule for this week had been cancelled. This includes the sitting of the Supreme Council of the Union of Russia and Belarus, planned for 17th December, and the sitting of the inter-state council of the four countries in the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan), planned for 18th December, as well as the meeting planned for 19th December with Bulgarian President Petur Stoyanov.

Nevertheless, according to Yastrzhembskiy, he is not ruling out some telephone contacts for Yeltsin in the next few days.

Source: Interfax news agency, Moscow, in Russian 0905 gmt 16 Dec 97

Yeltsin feels much better, according to leading medical source

Text of report by Russian Ekho Moskvy radio on 16th December

President Yeltsin really feels better, a leading medical source assured Ekho Moskvy radio station.

According to him, the president is busily working on documents, but it is still too early to talk in terms of a full work schedule. A well-informed source in the Kremlin administration could not name a probable date for a round table meeting on land reform or for a session of the "big four".

He also expressed doubts that Yeltsin's visit to India, which is planned for January, would take place at that time. However, our source pointed out that no instructions for a postponement of the visit had yet been given.

Source: Ekho Moskvy radio, Moscow, in Russian 0900 gmt 16 Dec 97

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