Putin agrees to run for Russian parliament

MOSCOW, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to run for parliament in December as a candidate of the United Russia party.

Opening its eighth pre-election congress in Moscow Monday, Putin accepted the party's invitation to fill the first line on its list of candidates for the State Duma, Russia's Itar-Tass news agency reported.

"I am accepting your invitation to lead United Russia with gratitude," Putin said while at the same time refusing to become a member of the party.

"I am a non-affiliated person. I would not like to change this status of mine," he told the gathering of 2,000 guests and delegates in Moscow

RIA Novosti says Putin could become prime minister in 2008 if the United Russia party wins this December's parliamentary elections.

"Heading the government is realistic, but it is too early to consider it," Putin says.