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| Putin party 'leads Russia polls' | Putin party 'leads Russia polls' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| President Vladimir Putin's party has won a landslide victory in nationwide elections, early official results show. | President Vladimir Putin's party has won a landslide victory in nationwide elections, early official results show. |
| With 19% of ballots counted, United Russia had 63.5% of the vote, followed by the Communists at 11.3%. | With 19% of ballots counted, United Russia had 63.5% of the vote, followed by the Communists at 11.3%. |
| Two other pro-Kremlin parties looked set to pass the 7% threshold to win seats. Turnout has been put at 60%. | |
| This result would give Mr Putin the authority to retain political power after his presidential term ends next year, possibly as prime minister. | This result would give Mr Putin the authority to retain political power after his presidential term ends next year, possibly as prime minister. |
| The Communists say they will mount a legal challenge to the result, citing alleged voting irregularities. | The Communists say they will mount a legal challenge to the result, citing alleged voting irregularities. |
| "We do not trust these figures announced by the central elections commission and we will conduct a parallel count," Mr Zyuganov said. | |
| United Russia's leader, Boris Gryzlov, acknowledged there had been violations but dismissed them as insignificant. | United Russia's leader, Boris Gryzlov, acknowledged there had been violations but dismissed them as insignificant. |
| "Of course there are violations but the question is do they have an impact on the final result... They in no way put in doubt the final result." | "Of course there are violations but the question is do they have an impact on the final result... They in no way put in doubt the final result." |
| RESULTS SO FAR United Russia: 63.5%Communist Party of Russia: 11.3%Liberal Democratic Party of Russia: 10%A Fair Russia (Mothers/Pensioners/Life): 7% Q&A: Russian election Food, music welcome voters | RESULTS SO FAR United Russia: 63.5%Communist Party of Russia: 11.3%Liberal Democratic Party of Russia: 10%A Fair Russia (Mothers/Pensioners/Life): 7% Q&A: Russian election Food, music welcome voters |
| "The fact that these violations have been registered shows that we have a transparent ballot," he said. | "The fact that these violations have been registered shows that we have a transparent ballot," he said. |
| Independent monitors have complained their attempts to observe the poll were hampered. | Independent monitors have complained their attempts to observe the poll were hampered. |
| The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) abandoned its plans to send a big team of election observers, accusing Moscow of imposing curbs and delaying visas. Russia denied the claims. | The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) abandoned its plans to send a big team of election observers, accusing Moscow of imposing curbs and delaying visas. Russia denied the claims. |
| Only a much smaller group of MPs from the OSCE's parliamentary assembly attended the election, leaving some 330 foreign monitors covering 95,000 polling stations. | Only a much smaller group of MPs from the OSCE's parliamentary assembly attended the election, leaving some 330 foreign monitors covering 95,000 polling stations. |
| 'Victory for Putin' | 'Victory for Putin' |
| Eleven parties are competing for places in the lower house, the Duma. | Eleven parties are competing for places in the lower house, the Duma. |
| Several opposition parties have accused the government of stifling their campaigns. | Several opposition parties have accused the government of stifling their campaigns. |
| Many Russians are proud of Putin's achievements | Many Russians are proud of Putin's achievements |
| Two parties allied to United Russia - A Fair Russia and the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party - also polled enough votes to enter parliament, according to early results. | Two parties allied to United Russia - A Fair Russia and the right-wing Liberal Democratic Party - also polled enough votes to enter parliament, according to early results. |
| Mr Gryzlov of United Russia said the election was "a referendum on President Putin so I think we can say he has won a victory". | Mr Gryzlov of United Russia said the election was "a referendum on President Putin so I think we can say he has won a victory". |
| The party will nominate its candidate for next year's presidential elections at a congress later this month, Mr Gryzlov said. | The party will nominate its candidate for next year's presidential elections at a congress later this month, Mr Gryzlov said. |
| Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to stand down after his second term as president ends in March next year. | Mr Putin is constitutionally obliged to stand down after his second term as president ends in March next year. |
| According to the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow, his party's apparent landslide win in Sunday's election will enable him to continue wielding great influence in politics - even if he is no longer in high office. | According to the BBC's James Rodgers in Moscow, his party's apparent landslide win in Sunday's election will enable him to continue wielding great influence in politics - even if he is no longer in high office. |
| Mr Putin announced earlier this year that he may consider trying for the office of prime minister after his presidential term ends. | Mr Putin announced earlier this year that he may consider trying for the office of prime minister after his presidential term ends. |