Former Russian PM was ill at conference

FORMER Russian prime minister Yegor Gaidar complained about feeling ill hours before he was rushed to hospital, it emerged yesterday.

The news came amid reports in Moscow that Dr Gaidar, 50, was poisoned. His daughter Maria was quoted as saying doctors believe this is the case.

One of the organisers of the conference at NUI Maynooth at which Dr Gaidar fell ill said yesterday the author complained of illness at lunchtime on November 24. He then abandoned a planned address to launch a new book just after 5pm.