Primakov promised in a weekend television interview that he would soon unveil the plan, which is expected to show how closely his government will stick to the path of market reforms.

"We will really look at it now. I have already made a number of notes on it and I read it last night very carefully," Primakov told ORT Television in an interview on Saturday.

"We have our working meeting on Mondays with my deputies and leading ministers who are responsible for this. We will exchange views on it (the plan) and it will see the light of day soon."

Primakov, 68, has been criticised by the media for the long delay in producing a coherent plan to tackle Russia's economic problems since he became prime minister on September 11.

He has refused to hurry over what he says must be a well considered plan for reviving the crumbling banking system,restoring faith in the rouble and solving huge debt problems.

But the delay, during which one of his top economic ministers quit after less than two weeks in office, has been widely interpreted as a sign of disunity and lack of vision in a government comprising politicians of various political leanings. Communist first deputy prime minister Yuri Maslyukov has had a big role in preparing the plan, but central bank chief Viktor Gerasenko and liberal finance minister Mikhail Zadornov have also been involved.

"It is not Maslyukov's programme. It is a collective work," Primakov said, giving no clear indication of what it involves.

Primakov has made paying off wages and pensions a priority although he looks likely to face a budget shortfall and may have to print money to fill the gap.

But Primakov said: "If there is some (monetary emission) it will be minimal."

He said Russia would not go begging for help but made clear it would not reject offers of humanitarian aid and that Moscow would welcome fundsfrom the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

IMF has made it clear that new loans depend on Russia implementing tough market reforms.

President Boris Yeltsin is expected to hear this message when he attends a one-day Russia-European Union summit in Vienna on Tuesday.

Yeltsin said in a newspaper interview published at the weekend that he backs reforms but wants a cushion for people hit by the rouble's crash, rising prices and a wave in unemployment.

The 67-year-old president is going ahead with his trip to Austria despite concern about his health after he cut short a visit to Central Asia this month because he had bronchitis.

Primakov rallied behind Yeltsin, telling ORT the president should stay in office until 2000.

"I think the president should serve out his term and I think his health will allow him to do it. I am sure of that," he said.

"If we want to get out of the crisis, the last thing we need now is an election campaign, clashes of interests, compromising material andmud-slinging."

Primakov received a stark reminder of the other problems he faces when the head of the police's anti-kidnapping unit in the breakaway Chechnya region was seriously injured on Sunday when his car blew up. Two bodyguards were also hurt.

Primakov says he fears Russia could fall apart because of the desire for more independence in some of its 89 regions, and plans to hold talks soon with Chechen president Aslan Maskhadov.