CHERNOMYRDIN "JUST TIRED."

A Russian government spokesman has denied yesterday’s western media reports that Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin had been taken ill. The spokesman conceded that Chernomyrdin was not at work yesterday, and that First Deputy Premier Anatoly Chubais chaired a government meeting in his place. But he said the prime minister stayed at home because he was "very tired" after his recent visit to Central Asia. He dismissed as "obvious stupidity" reports that the prime minister had been hospitalized. (RTR, January 15. See yesterday’s Monitor)

Meanwhile, a presidential spokesman said that President Boris Yeltsin will end his vacation tomorrow and return to his residence outside Moscow. On Monday, January 19, he is expected in the Kremlin to discuss military reform with the chiefs of the military, security, and law enforcement agencies. (RTR, January 15)

Sergeev Proposes That Russian Aircraft Monitor Iraq.