Putin wins resounding victory in presidential poll

Vladimir Putin won a resounding victory in Russia’s presidential election yesterday, exit polls showed, securing a new six-year term in the Kremlin and a mandate to deal with opposition protests after a vote that opponents said was marred by fraud.

Two television exit polls, released after voting ended at 1700 GMT, forecast the former KGB spy would win 59.3% and 58.3% of the votes, enough to make a run-off against the second-placed candidate unnecessary.

His nearest rival, communist Gennady Zyuganov, fell short of 20% in both polls.