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    September 24, 2011

Medvedev Proposes Putin for Russian President in 2012

   VOA News
   Russian President Dmitry Medvedev addresses to the United Russia
   party's congress in Moscow, September 24, 2011. Photo: AP
   Russian President Dmitry Medvedev addresses to the United Russia
   party's congress in Moscow, September 24, 2011.

   Russian President Dmitry Medvedev proposed Saturday that Prime Minister
   Vladimir Putin run for president in 2012 elections, almost guaranteeing
   Putin's return to office four years after he was legally forced to step
   down.
   Putin said he was honored by Medvedev's proposal.
   Medvedev told the annual congress of ruling party United Russia that he
   is prepared to take on what he called "practical work" in the
   government after the March presidential polls. Putin told party
   delegates he would propose that Medvedev head the party list for the
   elections and become prime minister in a new Putin presidency.
   Under constitutional changes pushed by Medvedev, the new president will
   have a six-year term rather than the current four years.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

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