Russia's Federation Council, or upper house of the parliament, Wednesday set March 14, 2004 as the date for the country's next presidential election.  

The decision, which was adopted unanimously, came three days after Sunday's nationwide elections of the State Duma, or the lower house of the parliament, in which the pro-Putin United Russia party and his likely allies won a two-thirds parliamentary majority.

President Vladimir Putin, who has been Russia's most popular politician since 2000 when he took office, is widely expected to seek the second term and to be re-elected with overwhelming support.

On Tuesday Putin expressed categorical opposition to the idea of revising the country's constitution.

Many speculated that Putin might either seek an extension of his tenure or pursue a third term with the help of the overwhelming majority, which is required to revise the constitution that stipulates two-term presidency.

(Xinhua News Agency December 11, 2003)