Russian helicopter on way to Yeltsin in emergency landing

President Yeltsin's daughter and grandson, and the Russian deputy prime minister, Boris Nemtsov, have escaped unharmed after a helicopter carrying them was forced to make an emergency landing.

The incident (was caused by a fire alarm going off.

The group was on its way to visit Mr Yeltsin, who is on holiday at Valdai north-west of Moscow.

There has been speculation about Mr Yeltsin's health.

He has not been seen in public since before the New Year.

But Russian television later showed Mr Yeltsin being briefed by Mr Nemtsov, and driving a snowmobile, though he did not speak.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service