Russian President Vladimir Putin accepted a proposal to chair the ruling United Russia in the party's congress on Tuesday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin addresses the congress of the ruling United Russia party in Moscow on April 15, 2008.

The congress confirmed the election of Putin as chairman of the party for a four-year term.

President-elect Dmitry Medvedev supported the proposal, saying Putin has become an "inform leader" of the party by leading it to win majority in last December's parliamentary elections.

Medvedev, however, declined to join the pro-Kremlin party, hailing the party's development.

"We still have a lot of work to do together," Putin said after his election.

Putin is to hand over power to Medvedev on May 7 and act as prime minister in Medvedev's presidency.

The United Russia created the post of chairman for Putin, who helped to establish the party in 2001 and took two-third of seats in the State Duma, lower house of the parliament.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2008)