Moscow, Dec 21 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed rumours that he has a serious health problem and said his political opponents were the ones benefiting from speculation about it.

"It's beneficial for (my) political opponents, who are trying to question the government's legitimacy or effectiveness," Putin said at a news conference.

"To the question about my health I can just say: 'You wait in vain.'"

In November, rumours that the president was suffering from a serious health problem began circulating in the Russian press, with some speculating that he had a back problem that would eventually need surgery.

The business daily Vedomosti cited some Kremlin insiders as saying that Putin's health problems were related to an old injury that flared up after he flew a motorised ultralight in September in a widely publicised flight with cranes.

Earlier that month, he seemed to limp at the APEC summit in Vladivostok. Putin cancelled a number of foreign trips scheduled for October and November.

The Kremlin has denied Putin had any problems, with presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov attributing the back pain to a muscle he pulled during judo practice.