Russian president Vladimir Putin's choice as his successor said today that he wanted Mr Putin to become prime minister in a government after next year's presidential election.
Mr Putin endorsed Dmitry Medvedev, a long-time close ally from St. Petersburg, yesterday, making him almost certain to win the presidential election next March.
Mr Putin enjoys high popularity, and pollsters say most Russians will back his choice.
Analysts said the choice of Mr Medvedev, a lawyer who has no political power base of his own, would allow Mr Putin to carry on governing from behind the scenes.
"I consider it a matter of principal importance for our country to preserve in the most important positions in the executive branch, the position of the prime minister of the government of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin," Mr Medvedev said in a brief statement carried live on state-run television.
"Expressing my readiness to stand as a candidate in the presidential election, I ask him to agree to head the government of Russia after the election of the new president".