Russia's Putin sworn in again

2004-05-07 20:25

Moscow - Russian President Vladimir Putin was sworn in to a second four-year term in office on Friday in a grand Kremlin ceremony witnessed by the country's political elite and broadcast live across the nation.

Russia's Soviet era national anthem, which has adopted new words, rang across the Kremlin's Andreyevsky Hall moments after Putin vowed to serve his nation after placing his hand on Russia's constitution before 1 700 witnesses.

In a brief speech, Putin vowed to make Russia into "a strong but peaceful nation that people can be proud of".

But he also addressed Western concerns that power was being centralised in the hands of the Kremlin while the pro-Putin party was dominating the parliament and leaving almost no space for the opposition.

"The success and development of Russia cannot and should not depend on one person or on a single political party, a single political force," Putin said in reference to the United Russia group that now holds a two-thirds constitutional majority in parliament.

"We must have a wide base of support in order to continue reforms in our country," Putin said.

"I am convinced that the best way that this can be achieved is through a developed civil society."

A 30 gun salute rang out across central Moscow after Putin's speech, at which point he came outside to receive congratulations from his military guard.

- AFP