Russia defence minister dodges talk of presidency

MOSCOW, Nov 1 (Reuters) Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov today ducked persistent speculation he might be in line to take over from President Vladimir Putin in 2008, saying the issue was not on his mind.

Ivanov, a close confidant of Putin who shares the president's background in the former KGB state security service, has been seen, with First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, as a candidate for the top Kremlin post.

Putin has said he will step down in 2008 in line with the constitution that allows him only two successive four-year terms in power.

Replying to journalists who pressed him on the issue during a visit to Oslo, Ivanov replied: ''I am not even thinking of that right now,'' Russian news agency Interfax said.

He added his thoughts were taken up more with the tasks of modernising the Russian armed forces and equipping it with modern armaments.

Ivanov stopped short however of ruling himself out of the contest for who will replace the 54-year-old Putin -- the hottest political topic in Russia.

Putin is expected publicly to anoint a successor late next year -- a move which, given the Kremlin's tight control over the media, will make that person a virtual certainty to win the 2008 presidential election.

Reuters SP DS1615