UZBEKISTAN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT YELTSIN STUMBLES DURING CEREMONY

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=pfCJmgb__Ic

(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. • • Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork • Twitter: / ap_archive • Facebook: / aparchives • Instagram: / apnews • • • #Yeltsin #Stumbles #President #Uzbekistan • You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...

#############################

New on site