Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that he supports the extension of the presidency from four years to six years, local media reported.

President Dmitry Medvedev submitted a bill to the parliament on the extension, which was raised during his first address-of-the state to the parliament last Wednesday.

"I support Dmitry Medvedev's proposal. As regards who may run for the next term and when they may do so, it is too early to speak of this," Itar-Tass news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Putin, also head of the ruling United Russia party, stepped down in May after serving two terms as president since 2000 due to constitutional ban on a third consecutive term.

Some analysts say the extension of the presidency and the strengthening of the role of the parliament, where the United Russia took two thirds of the seats, will pave the way for Putin's return to the Kremlin.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2008)