Opposition pushes Russian ex-PM for president

MOSCOW, June 2 (Reuters) Ex-Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov was nominated by his opposition movement today to run in March 2008 presidential polls, in which Russians will choose a successor to popular President Vladimir Putin.

Kasyanov, sacked by Putin in 2004 after four years at the head of his government, now belongs to the fractured liberal opposition, which accuses the Kremlin of rolling back on democracy.

''Prosperity can be achieved in this country only through freedom and with this slogan we will go to victory,'' Kasyanov told a congress of the Russian Popular Democratic Union after his nomination.

''Most of our citizens support us in this and we will win,'' he added, addressing 500 delegates at a Moscow hotel.

Putin, whose popularity is solidly backed by Russia's strong economic growth throughout his seven-year presidency, has said he will not change the constitution to allow himself a third term and has promised not to orchestrate the polls.

However, most Russia watchers believe a candidate backed by Putin has the best chances of winning the March election.

Putin, who plans to remain an influential political leader, has refused to name his choice. Several top officials, including first deputy prime ministers Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev, have been tipped by analysts as potential successors.

Opinion polls show liberal opposition leaders, including Kasyanov, are far less popular than Ivanov or Medvedev. Liberal opposition parties do not have seats in parliament.

Liberal leaders blame the Kremlin, which bars them from key state-controlled television channels, and local authorities, which ban their protests, for the poor state of the opposition.

However, their personal rivalry has so far prevented them from agreeing on a united candidate for the poll. Former central banker Viktor Gerashchenko and emigre dissident Vladimir Bukovsky have also announced plans to run.

Small group of protesters from pro-Kremlin movement Nashi rallied outside the congress at the Kosmos hotel dressed in doctors outfits saying Kasyanov was mentally ill and needed medical assistance.

Security guards blocked them from reaching the hall.

REUTERS SG RK1728