UZBEKISTAN: RUSSIAN PRESIDENT YELTSIN STUMBLES DURING CEREMONY

(12 Oct 1998) Russian/Nat

There are once again questions about Russian President Boris Yeltsin's health after he swayed and nearly fell over during a military ceremony in Uzbekistan.

Another welcome ceremony in which he was due to take part, was cancelled.

Talks with Islam Karimov, president of Uzbekistan, were later held behind closed doors at a government residence.

Yeltsin's spokesman said the Russian president had had a "difficult flight" and had caught at cold.

Yeltsin is on a two day visit to the central Asian republic of Uzbekistan.

As so often with the Russian leader, international crises were put on the back burner as doubts about his health took centre stage once more on Sunday.

Yeltsin was seen to visibly stumble when he arrived in the Uzbekistan capital, Tashkent.

He leant on the arm of President Karimov for support as he crossed the tarmac and later waved to the cameras.

But more was to follow.

Yeltsin was uncomfortable on his feet as he and Karimov stood side by side while the national anthems were played.

An aide dashed closer to the Russian leader when it looked at one point as if he was going to fall over.

After the ceremony, Karimov immediately took Yeltsin's arm as they walked away over the tarmac.

A wreath laying ceremony at a monument to a national hero of Uzbekistan was cancelled.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Yakushkin said the Russian president was suffering from a cold after having been through a tough working week.

SOUNDBITE: (Russian)
"I have to say I have spent the whole week with Boris Nikolayevich (Yeltsin). He has had a very busy working week, and that is why I am holding this briefing. Some of you were present at these meetings. It was a hard flight and not an easy end to his working week. I have to say he has a cold.
SUPER CAPTION: Dmitry Yakushkin, Kremlin spokesman

The 67-year-old president, who had a quintuple heart bypass, is facing an economic crisis and labour unrest at home while on the international front the crisis in Kosovo poses a serious challenge to Russia's international relations.

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