The Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, has returned to the Kremlin after two weeks in a Moscow clinic where he was treated for a severe viral infection.

But Mr Yeltsin only lasted three hours at the Kremlin, before returning to the sanatorium outside Moscow. His spokesman described his short stay at work as a compromise solution.

Mr Yeltsin had been recommended by his doctors to take a holiday but he insisted that he was fit enough to go back to work.

One of his first known commitments will be a conference on Friday, which will bring together representatives of Russia's main political parties. The meeting was cancelled when Mr Yeltsin was taken ill.

Mr Yeltsin underwent heart by-pass surgery 13 months ago and since then there has been frequent speculation about his health.

His decision apparently goes against the advice of his doctors, who told him last Friday that they thought he should rest for another week.

But Mr Yeltsin has a reputation for stubbornness and for ignoring his doctors' recommendations.

Mr Yeltsin's spokesman says the President is likely to take a short holiday in the New Year, but until then he has a busy working schedule.

He certainly has plenty of serious issues to get his teeth into. The Russian Parliament has been dragging its feet on next year's budget, and land reforms. The government is also struggling to pay off huge wage arrears before the end of year deadline.
 

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