Pneumonia victim Yeltsin 'home next week'

Boris Yeltsin is recovering normally from pneumonia and should be home from the hospital early next week, an aide said today, denying speculation that the former Russian president’s condition had worsened dramatically.

Yeltsin was taken to hospital more than a month ago, on the eve of his 70th birthday, with what aides said was the flu. Doctors said the illness was complicated by pneumonia, but reported last week that he had almost recovered and would be home in days.