Medvedev confirms his readiness to work in tandem with Putin

Moscow, Feb 27 (UNI) The Kremlin-backed presidential candidate Dmitry Medvdev today confirmed his readiness to work in tandem with the incumbent President Vladimir Putin to ensure stability for Russia.

''If I am trusted to run the country, I undertake to continue the path which has proved efficient, the path of President Putin,'' Mr Medvedev said at a meeting with voters ahead of presidential poll on March 2.

''If we continue to work together, then we can do some good for the country,'' he said.

Earlier, Mr Putin had stated that he was ready to work as Prime Minister if Mr Medvedev was elected President.

In a direct appeal to voters to back him in the election, he said he knew how to make the country strong and successful.

There were many problems that had not been resolved but the country must move forward, the presidential candidate said in an address broadcast on state-run television.

''We need political stability, for that we need every day to improve peoples' lives, to develop the economy, reliably protect Russia's sovereignty and defend the rights of our citizens,'' he said, adding, '' We know how to make the country a success. We can do that. And I am sure that is how it will be.'' UNI XC SYU KP2127