MOSCOW - Ex-Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov was nominated by his opposition movement on Saturday to run in March 2008 presidential polls, in which Russians will choose a successor to popular President Vladimir Putin.

Kasyanov, sacked by Putin in 2004 after four years at the head of his government, now belongs to the fractured liberal opposition, which accuses the Kremlin of rolling back on democracy.

"Prosperity can be achieved in this country only through freedom and with this slogan we will go to victory," Kasyanov told a congress of the Russian Popular Democratic Union after his nomination.

"Most of our citizens support us in this and we will win," he added, addressing 500 delegates at a Moscow hotel.

Putin, whose popularity is solidly backed by Russia's strong economic growth throughout his seven-year presidency, has said he will not change the constitution to allow himself a third term and has promised not to orchestrate the polls.

However, most Russia watchers believe a candidate backed by Putin has the best chances of winning the March election.

1

2

Opposition pushes Russian ex-PM for president(Over)
[Click Here]  Sharing with your friend in QQ/MSN!
Last:'60 die' as Afghan boat sinks