Date Of Russian Presidential Election Set

Russian President Vladimir Putin is due to leave the Kremlin in 2008 (ITAR-TASS) December 14, 2006 -- The head of Russia's Central Electoral Commission, Aleksandr Veshnyakov, has named March 9, 2008 as the date of the country's next presidential election.

Under the constitution, President Vladimir Putin is required to step down in 2008, when his second consecutive term as president expires.

(Interfax, AFP)