President Yeltsin has long been known for his unexpected actions and dismissing his entire government is a stunning example of how he retains his ability to surprise.

He is a master at keeping the world guessing and his Russian aides have been kept constantly on their toes during his almost seven years in power.

How high risk his latest gambit to introduce some dynamism into Russian politics will be, only time will tell.

It has certainly gone some way towards revamping the image of a President ailing in health and increasingly less able to function.

Mr Yeltsin only recently returned to work after recovering from a chest infection.

No show for the president on an official visit to Ireland

Some commentators have suggested the time off at his Gorky-9 residence outside Moscow may well have been spent planning for his latest political tour-de-force.

Announcing his radical measures on Russian television Mr Yeltsin appeared calm and composed.

In the past however some of his more confusing statements have been attributed to his alleged fondness for the traditional Russian tipple, vodka.

At a press conference at the end of his last official state visit to Britain in 1992, Mr Yeltsin was almost incoherent.

In 1994, Mr Yeltsin, following a good lunch with German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, snatched the baton from the conductor of an oompah band and gave an impromptu performance as they played a Russian folk tune.

The following month, Mr Yeltsin failed to get off an aeroplane at Shannon Airport in Ireland for a scheduled meeting with the Irish leadership.

Since his heart by-pass operation in November 1996 however, President Yeltsin appears to have kept his drinking in check.

He recently berated journalists for being obsessed about the state of his health and threw down a challenge.

He said: "Tell me the kind of sport you want me to challenge you in and I'm on my way to the sports ground. Let's go to the swimming pool, to a tennis court, or to a running track."

He certainly continues to make those around him jump with the odd unexpected pronouncement.

On a visit to Sweden in December he declared that Russia was unilaterally cutting its nuclear arsenal by one third.

His press secretary, Sergie Yastrzhembensky was forced to explain that when Mr Yeltsin said that Russia was cutting back its nuclear weapons, what he really meant was that Russia was NOT unilaterally cutting back its nuclear weapons.

He also announced during that visit that Russia was NOT going to sign up to the treaty banning anti-personnel landmines.

This was in contradiction to a personal assurance that Russia would sign up, given by Mr Yeltsin in the wake of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

However there is no going back on his latest decision.

Whether history judges it as a shrewd move by a wily politician or the beginning of his downfall remains to be seen.

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©