St. Petersburg group collecting signatures backing 3rd Putin term

An activist group in Vladimir Putin's hometown began collecting signatures in support of a third term for the president after the city's top official said keeping him in office would provide stability.

The signature campaign by a little-known group called Patriots of St. Petersburg marked the latest call for constitutional change that would allow Putin to run for re-election in 2008. The Russian constitution limits presidents to two consecutive terms.

It came after St. Petersburg governor Valentina Matviyenko, a close Putin ally, said Saturday that a third term for Putin would ensure political stability in Russia and give him a chance to "accomplish reforms." She said she was expressing her personal opinion.

Patriots of St. Petersburg representative Oleg Volkov said the group feels that "Putin's departure would hamper positive changes in the country, slow down the course of economic reforms and create unnecessary political risks."

Putin has said repeatedly that the constitution should not be changed to allow him a third term, but some analysts believe the Kremlin has not ruled out an effort to keep him in power and a growing number of politicians and regional lawmakers have called for him to stay on, reports AP.

O.Ch.