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| Putin party 'leads Russia polls' | Putin party 'leads Russia polls' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party has secured more than 60% of the vote in nationwide elections, early official results show. | President Vladimir Putin's United Russia party has secured more than 60% of the vote in nationwide elections, early official results show. |
| Such a majority would give Mr Putin the authority to retain political power - possibly by becoming PM after his presidential term ends next year. | Such a majority would give Mr Putin the authority to retain political power - possibly by becoming PM after his presidential term ends next year. |
| Turnout is believed to have been high at 60%, election officials said. | Turnout is believed to have been high at 60%, election officials said. |
| Communists were trailing in second place with 11.5% of the vote, based on a count of more than 12% of the vote. | |
| The Communists say they will mount a legal challenge to the result, citing alleged voting irregularities. | |
| Eleven parties are competing for places in the lower house, the Duma. | Eleven parties are competing for places in the lower house, the Duma. |
| Several opposition parties have accused the government of stifling their campaigns. | Several opposition parties have accused the government of stifling their campaigns. |
| Two parties allied to United Russia - A Fair Russia and the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party - also polled enough votes to enter parliament, according to early results. | |
| A Kremlin spokesman said the partial results showed that the overwhelming majority of Russian voters supported President Putin's course and wanted it to continue "after the current president's second term ends". |