Woman heads Russian bank

Moscow - Russia's Prime Minister, Viktor Chernomyrdin, was reported to have resigned, but this was dismissed as an 'absurd rumour' by his office, writes Andrew Higgins. Ekho Moskvy, an independent Moscow radio station, said Mr Chernomyrdin, on holiday in the Black Sea resort of Sochi, had quit for health reasons. It quoted 'informed circles close to the Russian President'.

Itar-Tass news agency promptly issued a denial.