Yeltsin Insists He’s Fine, Still In Control

President Boris Yeltsin, appearing more robust and wearing a business suit, Tuesday denied that he needs surgery and insisted that he remains in control of Russia after three weeks in the hospital for a heart condition.

Speaking to a correspondent of state-owned Russian Public Television, Yeltsin said, “I keep the wheel of this big ship Russia in my hands, and I keep my hand on Russia’s pulse.”

His crisp appearance and diction contrasted with a heavily edited videotape broadcast 11 days ago in which Yeltsin slurred words and seemed to be barely sitting up straight.