Putin sets date for parliamentary vote

Moscow, Sep 2: Russian President Vladimir Putin today set December 2 as the date for the next parliamentary election, starting the countdown for what is seen as a dress rehearsal for the 2008 presidential vote.

Putin set the date for the election to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament in a decree, reported Russian news agency Itar-Tass. The election date had been widely anticipated.

Reuters
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