Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused the organisers of massive protests against vote fraud of working to weaken Russia on orders from the West and rejected calls for a rerun of the election.

PRESIDENT Dmitry Medvedev ordered an investigation yesterday into allegations of fraud in Russia’s parliamentary election, one day after tens of thousands of protesters demanded it be annulled and rerun.

Tens of thousands of people held the largest anti-government protests that post-Soviet Russia has ever seen today to criticise electoral fraud and demand an end to Vladimir Putin's rule.

Russia’s opposition will test Vladimir Putin’s grip on power today in nationwide protests that promise to be the largest demonstration of public outrage since the dying days of the Soviet Union.

PRIME Minister Vladimir Putin strongly criticised US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday, accusing her of encouraging and funding Russians protesting election fraud.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today accused US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of encouraging and supporting the election protesters and warned of a wider Russian crackdown on unrest.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin today accused US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of encouraging and supporting the election protesters and warned of a wider Russian crackdown on unrest.

POLICE clashed with protesters on a downtown Moscow square for a second night as demonstrators rallied against alleged vote fraud in Russia’s parliamentary elections.

Demonstrators trying to hold a second day of protests against vote fraud in Russia’s parliamentary elections have clashed with police in Moscow.

Thousands of police and troops patrolled central Moscow today in an apparent attempt to deter any further election protests.

Russia's prime minister Vladimir Putin has declared himself satisfied with the performance of his party in parliamentary elections even though it lost a significant number of seats.

Thousands of protesters took to Moscow’s streets, accusing prime minister Vladimir Putin’s party of rigging Russia’s parliamentary election in which it won the largest share of the seats.

VLADIMIR PUTIN’S ruling party clung to a much reduced majority in parliament after an election that showed growing weariness with the man who has dominated Russia for more than a decade and plans to return to the presidency next year.

Several thousand people protested in Moscow tonight against prime minister Vladimir Putin and his party, which won the largest share of a Russian parliamentary election that observers said was rigged.

Prime minister Vladimir Putin’s party struggled to hang onto its majority in Russia’s parliamentary election, results showed today, suggesting Russians were wearying of the man who has dominated Russian politics for more than a decade.

VLADIMIR PUTIN’S ruling party suffered a big drop in support in a parliamentary election yesterday and was not certain even of holding on to a majority of seats, an exit poll showed.

Exit polls cited by Russian state television are showing Prime Minister Vladimir Putin’s party tallying less than 50% of the vote in Russia’s parliamentary election.

Russia’s long dominant party appeared likely to lose its edge as voters across the sprawling country cast ballots for Parliament today, many of them frustrated over corruption and the gap between ordinary Russians and the super-rich.

RUSSIA’S political parties enjoy “free and equal competition” ahead of tomorrow’s parliamentary election, President Dmitry Medvedev insisted, as voters complained of record violations by the Kremlin party and the only independent election monitoring group was prosecuted.

Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said the nation’s political parties enjoyed “free and equal competition” ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election, while voters complain of record violations of election law by the main pro-Kremlin party.

Russia will aim new missiles at US defence sites in Europe if Washington goes ahead with a planned shield, president Dmitry Medvedev said today.

Vladimir Putin said today he will run for Russia’s presidency in 2012, almost certainly ensuring he will retake the office he previously held and foreshadowing years more of a strongman rule that many in the West have called a retreat from democracy.

RUSSIAN Prime Minister Vladimir Putin yesterday invited motorists, home owners and charity volunteers to join a movement which should help his United Russia party win a parliamentary election later this year.

Russia’s ruling party swept regional elections in several provinces at the weekend, easily maintaining its grip on power.

Russians went to the polls in regional elections today which will gauge the ruling United Russia party's ability to garner support at a time of economic hardship and high unemployment.

PRESIDENT Dmitry Medvedev said yesterday a crushing win by Russia’s ruling party in local elections proved its moral and legal right to run the regions, but the opposition and independent observers said the voting was rigged.

The Russian parliament today tentatively backed constitutional changes that would extend the presidential term from four to six years.

The Russian parliament today tentatively backed constitutional changes that would extend the presidential term from four to six years.

President Vladimir Putin accepted leadership of the dominant United Russia party today securing his grip on power after he leaves the Kremlin and becomes prime minister next month.

PRESIDENT Vladimir Putin told a party congress yesterday he would accept the prime minister’s post if his long-time protege is elected president, guaranteeing Mr Putin a continuing heavyweight political role in Russia.

Vladimir Putin’s party won a crushing victory in Russia’s parliamentary elections, paving the way for the leader to remain in control even after he steps down as president.

Russian president Vladimir Putin’s party was on course for a landslide victory tonight as early results showed they had clinched more than 60% of the vote.

Russians complained today about being pressured to vote, with some saying their ballots were already filled out for President Vladimir Putin’s party and others reporting cash bribes, election watchdogs said.

President Vladimir Putin’s party won more than 60% of the vote in Russia’s parliamentary election today, an exit poll said.

CAMPAIGNING for Russia’s parliamentary election ended yesterday with President Vladimir Putin’s party on course for a landslide victory and opposition groups voicing fears of widespread ballot-rigging.

Campaigning ended for Russia's parliamentary election today with President Vladimir Putin's party on course for a landslide victory and opposition groups voicing fears of widespread ballot-rigging.

America was accused of meddling in Russia’s elections by President Putin today. He claimed Washington was advising Western observers to boycott the vote on December 2.

Russia’s president Vladimir Putin today gave the clearest hint yet that he intends to maintain a position of power even after standing down from office next year.

Russia’s President Putin today gave his strongest hint yet that he would step down at the end of his second term next year.

Russia’s lower house of parliament was today set to vote on President Vladimir Putin’s nominee for prime minister, with confirmation assured in the Kremlin-controlled chamber.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has denounced Georgia’s arrest of Russian officers as “state terrorism,” but ordered the withdrawal of Russian troops from the neighbouring country to continue as planned.

Russian prosecutors has opened an investigation after a newspaper in the southern city of Volgograd published a cartoon of Jesus, Moses, Buddha and the Prophet Mohammed, a senior prosecutor said today.

Russia’s lower house of parliament turned down a motion of no-confidence President Vladimir Putin's Cabinet but many MPs demonstrated their disdain for the government by boycotting the vote.

RUSSIA’S first post-Soviet leader Boris Yeltsin issued a veiled warning that President Vladimir Putin’s decision to hand sweeping new powers to the Kremlin in the wake of the Beslan hostage crisis could roll back democratic freedoms.