Minister of Education Aleksandr Radkov of Belarus

Radkov said on Monday that the programme would resume and that international adoptions would continue.

Meanwhile, Radkov said Moroz was well and receiving psychological assistance at a "rehabilitation centre.

Radkov said two Italian doctors who had accompanied Moroz back to Belarus would be allowed to assess the conditions inside local orphanages.

Radkov had apparently backed down from his initial plans.

Education Minister Aleksandr Radkov said that all 4,000 Belarusian orphans would spend the forthcoming Christmas/New Year vacation in Belarus.

From the resulting corner, another header by Radkov was cleared off the goal-line.