Chechen parliament wants Putin to be president one more term

Lawmakers in the regional parliament voted unanimously for a measure asking the federal lower house of parliament, the State Duma, to seek the removal of a constitutional restriction limiting Russia's president to two consecutive terms in office, NTV television reported.

"The political, economic and military situation in the Russian Federation requires that Putin, who has won people's support, completes the reforms he has launched," Chechen parliament speaker Dukuvakha Abdurakhmanov told lawmakers in remarks broadcast by NTV, Independent Online rports.

Lawmakers in the regional parliament voted unanimously for the measure. It asks the upper house of the Russian parliament to begin the removal of a constitutional restriction that limits Russia's president to two consecutive terms in office, Novosti reports.

Putin said this month the Russian constitution would not be amended. Under the constitution, a president may remain in office for two consecutive terms and is entitled to run for a third term after at least one term of absence, United Press International reports.

Putin succeeded Boris Yeltsin as president on Dec. 31, 1999. He won his second term on March 14, 2004. His current term expires in 2008.