Momentum grows for president to stay for third term

Calls for Vladimir Putin to remain Russian president beyond 2008 gained momentum in October 2007 after a senior lawmaker said there were legal means for him to continue in office and rallies took place in several Russian cities urging him to stay.

Sergei Mironov, speaker of Russia's upper house, said the issue of a third term for Mr Putin had 'not been taken off the agenda' in spite of a constitutional bar on presidents serving more than two consecutive terms.