Circulation trouble endangers Deng

Bonn - China's paramount leader, Deng Xiaoping, has circulation problems and his health could undergo a "rapid change" at any time, one of his physicians was quoted as saying in the latest edition of Der Spiegel, the German news magazine.

"Blood circulation in the brain is no longer fully functional and the heart is also no longer getting enough blood," Wu Jieping, described as one of the team of doctors treating Mr Deng, was quoted as saying. He said Mr Deng also suffered from Parkinson's disease, which affects the nervous system.

Speculation that Mr Deng, now 90, may be nearing death has been fanned by his failure to appear at this year's New Year celebrations and by comments about his declining health by his daughter, Deng Rong. Reute