Medvedev wins Russian Presidential elections

Moscow: Dmitry Medvedev has won the Russian Presidential elections by a landslide, according to official figures released Monday.

Medvedev secured an overwhelming victory by gaining 69.9 per cent of the vote, with 86.7 per cent of the ballots counted, Central Election Commission (CEC) figures indicated.

Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov ranked second with 18 per cent of the vote, Liberal Democratic Party leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky won 9.6 per cent of the vote and Democratic Party leader Andrei Bogdanov, 1.3 per cent, CEC figures showed.

A candidate must obtain more than 50 per cent of the vote to win an outright victory.

At a press conference held hours after the polling, Medvedev said he would continue Putin's policies.

"As for the course that I would like to pursue, it is the path chosen eight years ago," Medvedev said at his election headquarters early Monday.

"I outlined the main positions and priorities of this development in my speeches at various venues and forums. My positions can be characterised differently, but I think it will be a direct continuation of the Putin's policy course," said the Russian president-elect.

Medvedev pledged to focus on Russia's relations with member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States and pursue an independent foreign policy.

The CEC will issue the final results on Friday and the new President will be sworn in on May 7, 2008.

Incumbent President Putin is constitutionally barred from a third consecutive term.