Putin comments on US presidential elections

International terrorism has a goal not to let incumbent US President George Bush have a second term in office, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced at a press conference in Dushanbe. If terrorists succeed, they will celebrate their victory in the war against the US and the anti-terrorist coalition, he added. "Russia has always opposed a military operation in Iraq and currently our opinion differs from that of George Bush," Putin emphasized.

Putin also stressed that he intended to mar relations with no US presidential candidate. According to the Russian President, Russian officials will respect the choice of US people in any event.