Putin glad for 'predictable partner' Bush

Russian President Vladimir Putin has hailed George Bush as a “predictable partner” and said that if his election victory is confirmed, it would mean the American people had not given in to the threats of international terrorists.

“If Bush wins, I would feel happy that the American people have not allowed themselves to be scared and made the decision they considered reasonable,” Mr Putin said at a Kremlin news conference following talks with Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

He said that US-Russian relations have improved under the Bush presidency “for the benefit of our peoples and global security”.

Mr Bush has shown himself to be a “tough politician, a man with strong character and a predictable partner”, he said.