Russia candidate warns of looming crisis

MOSCOW, June 2 (UPI) -- A former Russian prime minister says the country is heading toward a political crisis that could come to a boil before the next presidential elections.

Mikhail Kasyanov told a meeting of his People's Democratic Union Saturday that the government needs first and foremost to establish a "true system of separation of powers in a very short time."

President Vladimir Putin has been coming under criticism both at home and overseas for moving to increase his own powers. Putin will remain in office until 2012; however, Kasyanov said the country might not make it that long without a significant showdown.

The Interfax news service said Kasyanov, who is running for president, called for reforms including free education, abolition of the military draft and an overhaul of the state-owned energy giant Gazprom.