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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Putin promises Russian 'renewal' | Putin promises Russian 'renewal' |
| (41 minutes later) | |
| Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a gathering of his supporters in Moscow coming polls will see a "total renewal" of his country's leadership. | Russian President Vladimir Putin has told a gathering of his supporters in Moscow coming polls will see a "total renewal" of his country's leadership. |
| He also accused the West of meddling in Russian politics, saying: "Those who confront us need a weak and ill state." | He also accused the West of meddling in Russian politics, saying: "Those who confront us need a weak and ill state." |
| Mr Putin was addressing a crowd that carried banners praising him and urging him to continue leading Russia. | Mr Putin was addressing a crowd that carried banners praising him and urging him to continue leading Russia. |
| Though he quits the presidency next year, Mr Putin has indicated he will stay in politics - possibly as PM. | Though he quits the presidency next year, Mr Putin has indicated he will stay in politics - possibly as PM. |
| He has said he will head the list for the pro-Kremlin United Russia party in December's parliamentary polls, though he is not a party member and will not be obliged to take a seat in parliament. | He has said he will head the list for the pro-Kremlin United Russia party in December's parliamentary polls, though he is not a party member and will not be obliged to take a seat in parliament. |
| His party has widespread support and is expected to win a huge majority. | His party has widespread support and is expected to win a huge majority. |
| Opposition and human rights groups have, however, accused Mr Putin of resurrecting Soviet-era practices to build an authoritarian, one-party state. | Opposition and human rights groups have, however, accused Mr Putin of resurrecting Soviet-era practices to build an authoritarian, one-party state. |
| 'Dirty tricks' | |
| Thousands of Mr Putin's supporters packed a sports stadium on Wednesday to hear him speak. | |
| Their banners praised the president and demanded Russia continue following his policies, while the venue's loudspeakers played patriotic songs from the Soviet-era. | |
| Mr Putin told the crowd they could look forward to the changes forthcoming parliamentary and presidential elections would bring. | |
| "In the months to come we will have a total renewal of the top leadership of the state," he said. | |
| He then attacked Russia's opposition politicians, saying they were effectively the agents of foreign governments. | |
| "Unfortunately there are still those people in our country who still slink through foreign embassies... who count on the support of foreign funds and governments but not the support of their own people," he said. | |
| In an apparent reference to popular pro-Western movements in Ukraine and Georgia, he added: "They want to go out into the streets, they've learnt from Western specialists. They've trained in neighbouring republics." | |
| Mr Putin said the opposition wanted to create a "disoriented, divided" Russia that would be vulnerable to "dirty tricks". |