Former Russian president Boris Yeltsin broke his leg Wednesday in Italy's Sardinia island, where he is on vacation, Russian news agencies reported.

Yeltsin, 74, broke his thigh bone after he had a fall in his home in the exclusive resort town of Porto-Rotondo in Sardinia, his aides with him in Italy told the Interfax news agency.

Yeltsin was immediately taken to a hospital in nearby Olbia, where the leg was put in plaster, and will be flown back to Russia later in the day.

President Vladimir Putin called Yeltsin to wish him a speedy recovery, the Itar-Tass news agency reported.

Yeltsin was Russia's first elected president after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. He resigned on Dec. 31, 1999 and was replaced by Vladimir Putin, the current incumbent.

Source: Xinhua