President Yeltsin has called for new approaches from the government to stimulate economic growth in Russia.

Mr Yeltsin said he and other government leaders had to accept the main responsibility for failing to meet all their targets.

He'd expected this year's results to be better, and pioneering ideas were now needed.

However, in answer to questions from reporters, Mr Yeltsin said several regions had registered some economic growth, and this had helped make 1997 the first year since his reform programme started five years ago that Russia's economic decline had been halted.

Mr Yeltsin emphasised that he was still holding the cabinet to his deadline of January-the-first for paying off debts to all public employees, many of whom are owed several months' pay.

Officials said last week that the federal government had paid off its own debts, but that Mr Yeltsin was insisting it ensure the regions also paid off theirs.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service
 

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