There are conflicting statements from Moscow about when President Yeltsin will leave the sanatorium where he has been receiving treatment for a chest infection.

Earlier Mr Yeltsin said he would resume work on Friday. But a later report on the Interfax news agency quoted his spokesman as saying that the president would remain in the sanatorium.

The spokesman said the 10 to 12 days doctors recommended for his recovery had not yet passed.

Mr Yeltsin was taken into hospital suffering from an acute viral respiratory infection.

It was the third time in just over a year that he had been to hospital, raising fears about his health.

Mr Yeltsin says his illness is not related to the heart bypass surgery he had 13 months ago and he denied his illness was serious.

"You find these rumours among yourselves," he told reporters.

"Everything is normal. My illness is not connected to any heart problems. I indeed had a cold and there was a danger of complications."

Mr Yeltsin cancelled public events while he was recovering. But he continued with paperwork for several hours every day and held occasional meetings at the sanatorium.

He also called German Chancellor Helmut Kohl on Wednesday to discuss "plans for high-level contacts" in 1998.

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